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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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.

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:
  • "i will like you to " (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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.
• 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.
  • melili_akona@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Melili Akona" <melili004@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2006 10:53:33 +0000
Subject: Dear C J , urgent business negotiation

>From MR MELILI AKONA
Cotonou,Republic Of Benin.
Private phone 229-97-26-54-50
Email melili_akona@hotmail.com

ATTN Dear Friend,

I am MR MELILI AKONA and I work with one of the leading banks here in
Cotonou Benin Republic. It is my wish to solicite your assistance in a
business transaction that will be of benefit to you and I.

During our investigation and auditing in the bank, my department came across
a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased customer of the bank HAJI
EL JAMAL ZOUE, a citizen of Lebanon who died on the recent plane crash in
Cotonou Benin republic on the 26th of Dec. 2003 You can seach the Webside.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html

personally, I kept this information secret within myself to enable the whole
plans and idea be profitable and successful during the time of execution.The
said amount was USD$18.5m( Eighteen million Five hundred thousand united
states dollars). As it may intrest you to know.

I got your contact through my country chamber of commerce and international
relations here in Cotonou Benin Rep. I believe you will be able and capable
to champion a business of such magnitude without any problem.

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and transfer
this money to your account if you indicate your intrest has been made by me.
In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this
country as a banker,we are not allowed to operate a foreign account and
would eventually raise aneye brow on my side during the time of transfer
because I work in this bank.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the
total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer while the remaining 60%
will be for me and my family.Please,you have been advised to keep business
as a secret between you and i for i am still in service and intend to retire
from service after i conclude this deal with you.

As soon as you confirm to me your willingness to assit me in this bussiness
i will send to you the deceased bank account informations and Application
which you will apply to the bank for inward transfer of this fund to your
account.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment,either in your country or any other country you may
advice us to invest in.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email the text of
the application. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this
transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear
as all required arangements have been made for the transfer immediately as
soon as you receive this letter. Trusting to hear from you immediately, or
My Alternative email/ I will like you to call me on Private phone
229-97-26-54-50 or email melili_akona@hotmail.com

Awaiting you urgent reply.
Thanks and best regards.
Yours faithfully,
Mr MELILI AKONA

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam