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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • richmondgodwin@yahoo.co.in (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?richmond=20etiebet?= <richmondgodwin@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 03:23:21 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT REPLY


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: richmondgodwin@yahoo.co.in

.


Dear Friend,


I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health. Please do

not take this for a junk letter though it may come to you as a

surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met.

The message could be strange but it's real if you pay some attention to it. I want to notify

you about it at least for the sake of your integrity.


In a brief introduction, I am Richmond Godwin, the Director of

Operation with Cooperative Bank of Benin-Cotonou ,Republic of

Benin. I have a very interesting transaction to discuss with you.

The business under discussion has to do with George Stearns a

national of your country, who is a Consultant/ contractor with

Societe Nationale Des Products D' Agricole (SONAPRA) Company in

Benin-Cotonou.


I managed to get your contact details through the Internet search

myself because time is of importance to it and I am desperately

looking for a person to assist me to pull this money out from the

bank before our corrupt government officials will confiscate the

money.


On Thursday, December 25, 2003, George Stearns , his wife and their

only daughter were involved in Air-Crash near the Atlantic Ocean in

Cotonou suburb. For more clarifications, you can visit the CNN web

news for the tragedy.

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


Since then I have made several inquiries to your Embassy, in a bid

to locate any relation of George Stearns . All attempts to reach

the next of kin of George Stearns has been futile as He had no

family here in Benin Republic. Hence my decision to contact you. I

want you and I to go into partnership, the nature of your business

is completely irrelevant to this transaction as all I need from you

is an assurance that my interest will be fully protected once this

transaction is concluded.


George Stearns , made a numbered time (fixed) deposited for twelve

calendar and his account with our Bank accrues to about (fifteen

Million, Three hundred and Fifty- Two Thousand US Dollars)

$USD15.352M.


According to the Benin Law, at the expiration of (Three) 3 years, the money will revert to the

ownership of the Benin 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 George Stearns so that the fruits of this old man's labour will

not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials who

will latter use the money to sponsor war in Africa and kill

innocent citizens in the search for political power/seat.


Please note that There will be no problem at all, my position as

the Director of Operation guarantees the successful execution of

this transaction within 7 Banking days and the money will be paid

into your account for us to share in the ratio of 40% for you and

60% for me.


This is very simple, I will like you to reply immediately so that I

can send you the Text of application which you will fill and apply

to the bank as the next of kin to George Stearns and I will use my

good position in the bank as the Director of Operation to make sure

that the application is approved, during board meeting for

immediate payment.


If you are interested, reply immediately so that we can proceed at

once.


Regards

Richmond




- Richmond Godwin

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam