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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "SANI S.JALAN" <j.sani.s@hotmail.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sanisani.j@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:38:37 +0100
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL (HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL)

Attention: Please.
My names are Sani S.Jalan,I work with the BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) here
in Ouagadougou, (Burkina Faso) West Africa. In my department I
discovered an abandoned sum of $5.5Million (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) in an account belonging to HAJI EL JAMAL ZOUE a
Lebaneese
who died along with his entire family in a plane crash in Cotonou
Benin republic on the 26Th of Dec.2003.
SEE WEBSITE BELOW FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE PLANE CRASH.
HTTP://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html
Since we got the information about his death, we have been expecting
his next of kin to come over to lay claim to his money,but all our
effort to lacate his relatives proved abortive,we learnt that all his
supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him at the plane crash
leaving nobody behind for the claim.
It is for this reason that I am making this contact to have you stand
as the next of kin or relation to the deceased person,so that the said
amount left behind will be paid to your account for safe keep and
subsequent disbursement between you and me,because I do not want this money
to go into the bank's treasury as unclaimed bill. The banking law and
guidline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after five
years, the money will be transfered into the bank treasury as unclaimed
fund.My request for foreigner partner as next of kin in this business
is occassioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner, and a
Burkinabe cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner.
I agree that 30% of the total amount be given to you as your commission
for providing and acting as next of kin to the late depositor and for
the provision of a foreign bank account , 10% will be set aside for
expenses incurred during the business and 60% would be for me.
If you agree with the shearing arrangment as stated above,kindly
forward your full name,full banking details,your phone and fax number for
easier communication.
Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email the text
of the application which you will forward to the bank for processing of
the payment into your account.
This transaction is hitch-free, all arrangements have been put in place
within the bank for a smooth transfer.
Best Regards,
Sani Jalan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam