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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • charlesaudit_credit@hotmail.com
  • mrcharles_777@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Charles Edu <mrcharles_777@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:03:22 +0200
Subject: Strictly Confidential

>From Mr Charles Edu
Auditing and Account manager
Credit Bank of Benin
Phone:+229 20 78 47 81
Email:charlesaudit_credit@hotmail.com



Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Charles Edu, the director in charge of auditing
and accounting section of Credit Bank
Benin,Cotonou,Republic of Benin, West Africa, and also
a special account officer of Mr. Peter Lund,an
European. He was a seasoned contractor with Benin
Cement Company, Cotonou, who unfortunately died in a
plane crash of Union Transport Africaines Flight
Boeing 727 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on 25th December, 2003.

You will read more stories about the crash on visiting
this website:
1.www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/
story/0,1280,-3555201,00.html

2.www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/

Before his death on the 25th December 2003, Mr.Lund
has a fixed deposit account with the bank and no other
person know about this account or have any information
relating to this account.

The account has no beneficiary nor any next-of-kin
other than him, and my investigation reveals that his
supposed next-of-kin died along with him in the crash.

Since then, I have made several enquiries to locate
any of his extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I
decided to contact you.

I'm contacting you to assist in remittance of a
dormant fund as the next of kin left behind by Mr.
Lund so as not to allow the bank confiscate or declare
the funds unserviceable according to Benin Republic
financial law on unclaimed bills which the government
usually map out for the purchase of ammunitions which
are the major course of connflicts in the west of Africa.

Consequently, I'm seeking your consent to present you
as the next-of-kin of the deceased so that the
outstanding fixed deposit (US$22.1M) will be remitted
into any designated accounbt of yours to be shared by
both of us in the ratio of 60% to me and 40% for you.
I have all necessary legal documents to back up this claim.

All that is required of you is absolute honesty, total
commitment, co-operation & absolute confidentiality.
Be rest-assured that this transaction will be executed
under legitimate arrangement that will protect both
parties from breach of the law and it is 100% risk
free and attracts no authorities and every information
you will require as the next of kin will be forwarded
to you after your final acceptance to help me
champion this deal.

If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly email
your following information to me:

a. Full Name(s)
b. Direct phone & fax number(s)
c. Your direct email & any other information you may
deem helpful.

Thank you for your cooperation until I read from you.
You may also reach me at my private mailbox.



Sincerely yours,
Mr Charles Edu
Please you can reach me via my alternative email at 
(mrcharles_777@hotmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam