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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.

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:
  • "lagos" (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.
  • osujibenson02@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "osuji benson" <osujibenson01@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 17:37:06 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY SIR/MA

MR OSUJI BENSON.
ACCOUNTS AND CLEARING
PRIME TRUST BANK PLC
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Fax: 234-1-7598681 (attn osuji)
Reply to: osujibenson02@yahoo.co.uk

Dear friend,

Please permit me to introduce myself. I am the HEAD OF ACCOUNTS AND CLEARING
UNIT OF PRIME TRUST BANK p l c. In December 2001, one of our esteemed
customers, MR. CHAVEZ BASSFORD, died in Lagos, Nigeria. Before the death of
MR. CHAVEZ BASSFORD, he was an influential fishing Magnate, who also owned
the BASSFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY here in Nigeria. His company has both
current and savings accounts with my Bank, Which i was his account officer.
At the time of his death, he had $16.4Million in both accounts.

When our Bank was notified of his death, we made efforts to contact his
immediate next of kin through his embassy in Victoria Island, Lagos. The
embassy later wrote to us, informing us that all attempt on their part to
contact any of his relatives was not successful. It was at this point, that
we contacted the government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Finance,
informing them about this problem. The government wrote to us back,
directing our Bank to place LATE MR.CHAVEZ BASS Ford’s funds in a suspense
account pending when any of his relatives show up to claim the money.


However, we received instructions from the Nigerian Government instructing
my bank to Disburse this fund to the next of kin to MR. CHAVEZ BASSFORD once
any member of his family shows up. It was as a result of these directives
from my government that i have contacted you to stand as the next of kin to
MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD, What i want to do, as the account officer to late
BASSFORD, is to present you or your company as the next of kin to MR.CHAVEZ
BASSFORD which will entitle you to receive this money on his behalf for me
and you, after we might have don the processes documentation involved. It
will not be difficult for me to establish the Relationship between you and
the late BASSFORD. You could be a distant relative to him, or his uncle from
his mother's side. As soon as you confirm your willingness to assist me, you
shall be provided withal information relating to the Late MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD
, as contained in our file.


You do not have to worry about this proposal, as i am directly involved and
as the account officer to the late MR.CHAVEZ BASSFORD, the transfer will be
carried out as soon as I hear from you and you can assume that you will not
by any means run away with the money when transferred to your country before
I come over to you. When we have successfully remitted the fund into your
account, you shall assist me invest my share into any profitable business in
your country for 2 years. After the successful completion of this
transaction, your share of the money will be 40%, 50% will be for me, 10%
will go to any registered charity organization such as the motherless babies
home, in your country, please let me know if this sharing pattern is fine
with you, so that at the end, we shall be happy after sharing. Should you be
willing to assist in this matter, kindly get back to me on the above email
address, stating your telephone numbers along with any question you may need
to ask about this transaction, i want to assure you of a hitch free
transaction, as your involvement will not expose you to any risk now or
after the successful completion of the transaction, as i will be involved as
an insider as well and will handle the process correctly.

I thank you once more, while i look forward to your urgent response to this
letter please send your reply to my private e-mail
id:osujibenson02@yahoo.co.uk




Best regards,

MR OSUJI BENSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam