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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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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • contactrichardallen@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Allen" <richardallen_4400@msn.com>
Reply-To: contactrichardallen@yahoo.es
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 11:12:02 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL FROM RICHARD ALLEN.

The Branch Manager
Metropolitan and Allied bank
Blouvard branch Accra
Ghana

My private Email: contactrichardallen@yahoo.es

Dear Friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not
yet met. The message could be strange but real if you pay some attention to
I could have notified you about it at least for the sake of your integrity.
Please accept my sincere apologies In bringing this message of goodwill to
you, I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any
embarassment.

I am Mr Richard Allen, Branch Manager, Metropolitan and Allied bank (M.A.B)
I managed to get your contact details through the Internet myself. Time is
of the importance and I am desperately looking for a person to assist me in
this confidential business. A British oil consultant/contractor with the
Ghana National inestment Corporation, Mr.Frank van Dijck Best made a
numbered time (Fixed) Deposit on January 6,1999,valued at US$12,500,000.00
(Twelve Million five Hundred Thouand Dollars)for twelve (12)calender months
in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we
discovered from his contract employers, the Ghana National Inestment
Corporation that Mr.Frank van Dijck died from an automobile accident On
Sunday evening July
16, 2000. You can see Mr.Frank van Dijck on this website

http://www.junior-riders.com/news/belgium/2000/frankvandijck.html

On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL,
and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr.Frank van Dijck did not declare
any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank
Deposit paperwork in my Bank . This sum of US$12,500,000.00 is still sitting
in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at
the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According
to Ghana Law, at the expiration of 6 (six) years,the money will revert to
the ownership of the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the fund as
the deceased kinship.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in
as the next of kin to Mr.Frank van Dijck so that the fruits of this old
man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government
officials.
This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and
address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and
affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ
the service of two lawyers for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to
obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your
favour for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you
will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the
beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to
share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all as
all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my
position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please observe
utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most
profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest
my share in your country. Awaiting your urgent reply via my email
address.

NB: Please respond to my private email :contactrichardallen@yahoo.es
Yours Faithfully
Mr Richard Allen

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam