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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • henrykonan@handbag.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. H.M. Konan." <komhenry@myway.com>
Reply-To: kohenry@myway.com
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:30:53 +0200
Subject: I need your urgent reply.


Dear Sir,

First, I must apologize if my mode of first contact is not acceptable to you and also solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that you do have anything to worry as I have perfected every arrangement with my colleague .

I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction,as i am aware of the high sense of responsibility placed on you and believe in your discreetness and ability to handle transaction of this nature.Let me start by introducing myself properly to you.

Iam Mr. Mady. H.Konan (Chief Executive Officer) of Africa Development Bank Ivory Coast,Abidjan.I came to know and pick on you in my Private Search for a Reliable and Reputable Person to handle this Confidential Transaction, which involves the appropriation and transfer of certain amount of Money to a Foreign Account requiring Maximum Confidence.

A Foreigner from United States of America, Late Mr.Stephen William a precious stone (Diamond) Merchant with the UNITA rebel movement of Liberia, until his death in August the year 2000,used our services as his fiduciary agent and account trustees and had a closing balance as at the end of September,2001 worth (US$11,400,000.00),our firm now expects a next of kin as beneficiary, Valuable efforts are being made by this firm to get in touch with any of the Stephen William Family or Relatives but to no success since then.

It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of Late Mr. Stephen William next of kin (He had no wife or children that is known to us).The management under the influence of our Chairman and few influencial Members of the Board of Directors, has instructed that arrangement be made for the fund to be declared Unclaimed and subsequently be donated to yet to be specified trust fund.I strongly believe the chairman might be up to something funny with his group.

In order to avert this development that will not take care of my interest, one of my trusted colleague and i who are anticipating interest now seek your permission to have you stand as the next of kin to Late Mr.Stephen William so that the fund US$11,400,000.00 will be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary next of kin. All documents and proofs to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out.

We have secured from the probate an order of mandamus suspending declaring the money as unclaimed with limited time to locate any of the deceased beneficiary next of kin, and moreso we are assuring you that this business is 100% risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest be for myself and my colleague for investment purposes, according to the agreement we shall reach mutually, As soon as we receive an acknowledgement of receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business proposal, we would furnish you with the two options/modalities we have carefully perfected for you to choose from with our insider information depending on your convenience to accomplish the project and disbursement ratio to suit both parties without any conflict.If this proposal is acceptable by you, please do not make undue advantage of the trust we are to bestow on you. Please,Reply only to my Private Email Address: henrykonan@handbag.com.

Thanks and God bless.
Best Regards,
Mr. Mady. H .Konan
Chief Executive Officer
Africa Development Bank
Ivory Coast, Abidjan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam