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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "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.
  • contact.dorathy_konjo_accountunit@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: mrsdorathy_konjo@voila.fr
Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 02:12:47 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Please your urgent response is needed.


FROM Mrs Dorathy Kanjo.
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT,
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
BANK OF AFRICA (BOA)
COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC.
WEST AFRICA.
EMAIL CONTACT.DORATHY_KONJO_ACCOUNTUNIT@YAHOO.COM
DEAR FRIEND,
I am Mrs Dorathy Kanjo, the Manager in charge of Auditing and Accounting unit Foreign Remittance department of BANK OF AFRICA (BOA) COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC. in West Africa. With due respect and regards I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction, during our investigation and auditing in the bank, my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person, a foriegner who died a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his account with the bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his family or relation before our discovery to thisdevelopment. I will send to you all the related informations for the transfers such as:
1. ACCOUNT NAME OF DECEASED CUSTOMER.
2. ACCOUNT N° / REF N° OF THE DECEASED CUSTOMER.
3. ADDRESS AND FULL CONTACTS OF THE BANK TO APPLY
4. TEXT OF APPLICATION TO APPLY FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE FUNDS.
5. WHEN AND WHERE THE PLAN CRASH HAPPENED.
Although 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 amount involved is (US$15.Million). Meanwhile all the whole arrangement and directives needed to put claim over this fund as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased, will be forward to you upon your acceptance information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to this great business opportunity.
In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in
this country as a civil Servant,we are not allowed to operate a foriegn
account and would eventually raise an eye brown on my side during the time of transfer because I work in this bank,This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of Oath to the bank and also present a foriegn account where you will need the said Fund (USD$15.Million) to be transfered into after due verification and clarification from our bank here to designated bank account.
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 40% of the total sum as ratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer while 50% will be for me. You are adviced to keep top secret as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after conclude this deal with you. 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.
All other necessary information will be sent to you when I hear from
you.
You should contact me as soon as you receive this letter.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Dorathy Kanjo
Manager Auditing and Accounting unit.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam