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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "foreign remittance division" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "abidjan" (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.
  • micheal_49koromah@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Micheal Koromah <micheal_49koromah@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2006 09:42:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Urgent business proposal


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: micheal_49koromah@yahoo.com

FROM THE DESK OF MR MICHEAL KOROMAH.

AUDITING AND ACCOUNTS DEPT.

FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIVISION

BANK OF AFRICA (BOA)

ABIDJAN-COTE D´IVOIRE.

EMAIL: micheal_49koromah@yahoo.com



Dear Respectful one,



I am Mr Micheal Koromah, Manager of Auditing and Accounts Department of the Foreign Remittance Division, Bank Of Africa. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On November 1999, an American oil consultant /contractor with the Cote D´Ivoire Ministry of Aviation , Mr. Barry Kelly made a numbered time (Fixed) deposited for twelve calendar months, valued at US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United State Dollars) 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, Cote d´Ivoire Ministry of Aviation that Mr. Barry Kelly died from an automobile accident.during the 19th september 2002 coup attempt that claim million of lives .here in A bidjan including the live of the former head of states general Robert Guei and 21 members of his families.


On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including his Bank

Deposit paperwork.



This sum of US$10,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it. According to the Ivoirian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Cote d´Ivoire Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.


Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Barry Kelly so that the fruits of this old man´s labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt officials.



This is simple, I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and address so that an attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarisation of the "WILL" and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world, which 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 bank account for us to share in the ratio of 80% for me and 20% for you.



There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position in this Bank guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via this my private email address. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand. 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.


With sincere regards,

Mr Micheal Koromah.




- Micheal Koromah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam