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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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Fraud email example:

From: "william edward" <williamedward8@msn.com>
Reply-To: williamedward01@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 02:26:37 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY

William Edward & CO. CHAMB
(ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY,
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.

Attn: My Dear,

Compliments, I Barrister Edward have decided to bestow this trust on you,
which I pray you will not ignore or betray. I appologise in advance for any
inconviniences this may cause you. I am Barrister Wiliam Edward the
Personal Attorney to late Mr. George M. Roland, who was a contractor here in
Benin Rep. And on the 3rd of Oct 2000, my client, and his family were
perished in a ghostly car accident along Midombo Togo express way. As a
matter of fact, my client made a fixed dopsit Amount, valued at (USD$10.7M)
with Legend Trust Bank here in Cotonou Benin Rep, and upon the maturity time
of their agreement, his bank started contacting him but no response.
Conseqently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to the
deceased as his personal attorney, or have his account confiscated after
four years, as it is in the law of this country.

Since then, I have made several contacts to His Countries Embassy in order
to locate any of my clients extended relatives, which had also been
unsuccessful. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for
over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased since none of his relatives were no way to be found so that the
proceeds of this account valued at $10.7m could be transffered into your
account, thereafter, we will both share it in percentage according to our
contributions to boost the success of this great transaction. I have all the
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up all the claims we will
make.

I know that you might be wonder why I have decided to trust you with this
huge sum, but the truth is that I need you to get this money out and
considering the fact that you are a foreigner which makes it a lot easier
and straight forward.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us make this great
benefiting transaction successfully. I guarantee you that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. Please get in touch with me as fast as possible
discuss further the progress of this business.

With best regards,

Hon: William Edward Esq,

Senior advocate of Benin (SAB)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam