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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "saheed usman" <s_saheedusman15@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: saheed2usman@o2.pl
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 21:10:19 +0100
Subject: AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE

Auditing and Accounting Unit
Foreign Operations Department
Credit Bank Benin,Cotonou Branch
Republic of Benin.

Dear Friend,
I am Mr.Saheed Usman,The Auditor in charge of Foreign Remmitance Department
of Credit Bank Benin in the Commercial city of Cotonou,Benin Republic.

This is a very confidential proposition for you.On April 21st 2003,an
Importer of Textiles and Automobiles for the past Thirteen years,Mr.BRETT
HARWOOD made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar
months,valued at US$10.2musd( Ten million two hundred thousand United States
Dollars) in my branch.

Upon maturity on April 20th 2004 as his Credit Officer,I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.After a month,we
sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his employees,that Mr.BRETT
HARWOOD was one of the passengers who died with his entire family in the
ill-fated plane crash involving a boeing 727 UTA Chartered Flight that took
off from Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into Atlantic Ocean on thursday
25th December 2003.

For further details of the Plane Crash,Please Visit
http://www.cnn.­com/2003/WORLD/afric­a/12/26/benin.crash/­index.html Further
investigations,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was
fruitless.Again,I made further investigation and discovered that Mr.BRETT
HARWOOD did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official
documents,including his Bank Deposit paper work in my Bank.

This sum of US$10.2 million USD is still sitting in my Bank no one will ever
come forward to claim it.According to the International Banking ethics,codes
and Laws,at the expiration of 4 (four) years,the money will revert to the
ownership of the Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in
as the next of kin to Mr.BRETT HARWOOD.This is simple,I will like you to
respond immediately with your full names and contact informations so as I
will send to you a specimen copy of an application form which you will
refill and send to the bank putting claim over the said balance with the
bank as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 45%
for me and 45% for you while 5% will be set aside for any expenses that may
arise in the process of transfering this fund into your choosen/nominated
bank account you wish to receive it and 5% to the motherless and the needy
in your country.

Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
informations.
Please send to me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy
communication,oral discussion and more directives on what next to do.

You should observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country which you will be the
arrow head of the investment.

I must not fail to tell you that this transaction is totally risk free and
legitimate.

Awaiting your urgent reply.

Thanks and GOD bless.

Mr.Saheed Usman.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam