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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Mike Khol <donpacosi@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: mikekhol@ymail.com
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:23:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re:message


I am Mr. Mike Khol from London. I want to seek your assistance after my
discovery during auditing in my bank as am the Manager of Bill and Exchange at
the Foreign Remittance Department of NATWEST BANK PLC. In my department I
discovered an abandoned sum of 47.5 million pounds in an account that belongs to
one of our foreign customers Mr William Knudson who died in Alaska Plane crash
on February 4th 2000. View this website for verification
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/.
Since his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim
his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as next of
kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking and financial
policies but unfortunately all the efforts proved abortive.It is therefore upon
this discovery that I decided as the head of my department to make this business
proposal to you and release the money to you as the next of kin or relation to
the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for
it. You should not nurse any atom of fear,feel free and respond. I need a
trustworthy and honest person that will assist remove this fund to his overseas
account. If you are interested, please include your full name, address, age,
occupation, telephone, etc. I will give you the details.
Mike 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam