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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ken quattara" <ken8quattara@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kenquattara@o2.pl
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:12:43 +0000
Subject: Need A Partner

Mr Kenneth Quattara
Av24 Rue104 Zone4
Marcory,
Abidjan – Cote D’Ivoire
 
Dear  Sir,
 
My name is Mr Kenneth Quattara, A Personal Staff to the late President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo who died on the 5th of February 2005.
 
You may be surprise to receive my letter on the grounds that we have not met before. But never mind you will get to understand the situation and my reason of contacting you as you read further. Before the death of President Gnassingbe Eyadema, I have as I had always done for him through the assistance of a Security Company moved the sum of USD$7,000.000 (Seven Million United States Dollars) out of Togo for safe keeping in Ghana. This Security Company also has affiliates in Europe.
 
 With his sudden death, he was unable to inform his business partner in Europe of this last arrangement and there is no other person who knows about this money expect me. I have contacted the Security Company and they are ready to release to whom ever I recommend as the beneficiary. I have in the past made similar arrangements and substantial amount of money made from sales of Diamond moved to different destinations and lodged in banks in Switzerland, Belgium, France and Hong Kong for my late boss.
 
I am contacting you to solicit for your urgent assistance to help me claim this money from the Security Company.
 
There is no risk involved in this and I assure you of a smooth transaction. You are please to maintain absolute confidentiality in this matter. Apart from the joint business participation, I will be very willing to share with you 50/50 of the total money. I am not ready to contact any other person until I get a reply
from you. I await your response.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Mr. Kenneth Quattara
 
NB: I am presently in Abidjan – Cote D’Ivoire and will give you details when I get a response from you.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam