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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:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ben Archison" <benarchison@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ben_archison@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:30:30 +0000
Subject: Dear Engel,

Dear Engel,
I am Mr. Ben Archison, the personal accounting officer to Mr Williams
Engel,a national of your country, who used to work with shell development
company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On the 21st of April 1999, my client, his wife and their three children were
involved in a car accident along sagbama express road. All occupants of the
vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several
enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives
this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful
attempts, I decided to trace his surname over the Internet, to locate any
member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist
in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they
get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge
deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Horse bank plc where the deceased had an account valued at
about 10.5million dollars has issued me a notice as his accounting officer
to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next
ten official working days. since i have been unsuccessfully in locating the
relatives for over 2 years now i seek your consent to present you as the
next of kin of the deceased since you have the same surname so that the
proceeds of this account valued at 10.5million dollars can be paid to you
and then you and me can share the money. I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. All you have to do is to send
the following:
(1) Your personal phone/fax number preferable cell.
(2) Your billing address.
(3) your name in full.

With this information’s it will enable me open a file on your behalf.
Thanks and God Bless.
Best Regards.
Mr. Ben Archison.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam