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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +2348035368721 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Kofi Ansah" <kofia_ansah47@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kofiansah12@yahoo.ca
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 09:49:40 +0000
Subject: Greetings my good friend

KOFI & ASSOCIATES ESQ
FROM THE DESK OF KOFI ANSAH ESQ.

 
                                              $16,000,000.00 Usd
Dear Friend,
 
I am Mr. Kofi Ansah, I am the legal Representative to Mr. Michael Leal, a National of your country, who was a contractor and an oil merchant in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client.
 
On the 21st of April 2004 my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a fire outbreak in there residence. All of the family members unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
 
I have contacted you to assist in returning the fund valued at
$16,000,000.00 UNITED STATES DOLLARS left behind by my client before it gets Confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Vault Company or Managers where this huge amount were Lodged. The said Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the relatives or families of the deceased or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days. For the fact that I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the family member to the deceased, since you have the same last name with my client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
 
Secondly he has a consignment tagged 'family valuables' he shipped or lifted by as cargo to Europe early the same year he died, according to the information he passed to me, it is of a important to him. Therefore, if you are related to this family in question or they are in your family tree or genealogy, please endeavor to reach me immediately to enable me inform you the modalities on how to carry out this project.
 
I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

 

If you’re interested indicate by sending the following information;

1; Contact address
2: International passport or driving license
3: marital status
4: Phone/ fax number
5; Age

 

Please get in touch with me through my email as soon as possible to enable us conclude soon.
 
Best regards,

Kofi Ansah.

+234 803 536 8721

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam