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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348023605271 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • hrewed@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Martins Duke <hrewed@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.martsd@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:00:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU URGENTLY.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: hrewed@rocketmail.com

..

- Mr.Martins Duke.Bill And Exchange of the Remittance Department,Citizens International Bank.Plot 119 Adeola Odeku street,Victoria Island,Lagos Nigeria.LETTER OF MUTUAL BENEFITDear Respectable One,I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral beliefs and ethics,which I feel may be of great disturbance to your personal life,But please treat with absolute secrecy and let it be personal.I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health.My name is Mr. Martins Duke,I work with the Citizens International Bank,bill and exchange of the foreign remittance department.I am the personal Accountant to late Engr.(Allan) a National of your country,who was a contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS.Here in after shall be referred to as my client On 30 JANUARY 2000,my client,his wife,and their three children were involved in the Kenya airways flight with registration number 5Y-BEN which departed from Nairobi to destination Lagos and the all family died in this fatal air crash on 30 JANUARY 2000 Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to get in touch with the consul-General of your Embassy,to locate any member of my late client family hence I contacted you.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged,particularly the CITIZENS INTERNATIONAL BANK Where the deceased had an account Valued at ($15 Million U S Dollars) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin.Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.On further investigation,I found out that:-(A) He has no other living declared relative,(B) He had died intestate (without making a will),(c) He was into Real Estate Venture (Realtor).Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives till date,I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($15 Million US Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.50% to me and 50% to you and all expenses will be shared equally after tax is deducted by the (IRS) in your country.On your soonest reply,I will tell you all you need to know about the money and method of operation we can use to effect remittance into your account for our mutual benefit.Also include your full name,address and phone number.I recommend that you send your response together with your most private telephone number to enable me call you for more explanation if the need arises.Yours sincerely,Mr.Martins Duke.Phone:+234-8023605271

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam