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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Jonathan Solum <josol2008b@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: jrollsproject@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 15:49:20 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Investment Opportunity


FROM THE DESK OF Dr. Jonathan Solumtochi
Auditing and Accounting Department,
African Development Bank ( A.D.B)
Cotonou Benin Republic,
West Africa.

Re: Urgent Transfer Of $52 Million(USD)

Dear Friend,

I am Dr. Jonathan Solumtochi, the officer in Auditing and Accounting section of African Development Bank (A.D.B).
With due respect and regard, I have decided to contact you on a business that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction. Kindly be patient and read the offer very well.

During our last annual auditing in this bank, my Department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased customer who died in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his account with this bank without any claim either from his family or relation before our discovery to this development. The said amount is $52 Million(USD).
We will start the first transfer with Thirty Two Million USD[$32,000,000.00].
Upon successful transaction without any disappointment from your side, we shall re-apply for the payment of the remaining amount to your account.

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the bonafide next of kin to this our late customer and transfer this money to your foreign account has been put in place.Directives and needed information will be given to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist me get this money moved to your account.Infact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this country as a civil servant (a banker), I am not allowed to operate a foreign account and it would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of transfer because I work in this bank.
And secondly since our late customer was a foreigner, it is necessary to involve a foreigner with a foreign account and that is more reason I need your assistance in this transaction.
This is the actual reason why it requires you, a foriegner, who has a foreign bank account to be fronted as the beneficiary to this our late customer and I assure you that the whole necessary information will be sent to you for a perfect success in this business.

I will not fail also to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free as all the legal documents to back you up will be orderly negotiated. On the smooth conclusion of this transfer, you will be entitled to 35% of the total sum as compensation, while 10% will be used to offset all expenses made during the time of transfer which also include telephone and internet bills, while 55% will be for me.

Please, you are advised to keep this offer a "top secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal with you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here until you confirm the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for sharing and investments which you will assist me in doing with my own share either in your country or any country you advise me to invest. All other vital information will be sent to you as I wait to hear from you urgently.

In your reply, send me your phone and fax numbers for oral communication.

Yours faithfully,
Jonathan Solum

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Envoyé avec Yahoo! Mail.
Une boite mail plus intelligente.


---------------------------------
Envoyé avec Yahoo! Mail.
Une boite mail plus intelligente.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam