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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: james smith <james_smith19000@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 05:21:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATTN;URGENT REPLY NEEDED


FROM: MR.jackson brawn
ECO BANK COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN WEST AFRICA.

Dear Sir,
I work with the ECO BANK BENIN Currently I am in charge of bills and exchange at the foreign remittance department of my bank.
I as the account officer to Mr RICHARD PALM who worked with chevron.He died in the december 25th 2003 Air crash in Benin Republic.
He left in his domiciliary account the total sum of $4.5 Million(four million five hundred thousand USA Dollars). Since his death we have been expecting his relation or next of kin to claim the fund.
However till this time of writting this letter no one has shown up.
Fiscal laws stipulate that if such funds are not disbursed after a period of (4) years they will be lost to the bank as unclaimed deposits.
On this note, I have decided to do business with you and release the money to you as the next of kin to the deceased for subsequent disbursement among us.
I will soon proceed on my retirement leave, and I personally do not want these funds tobe claim ny the bank.
The need for a foreigner as next of kin in this project is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Beninois will not fit in.I have agreed that 20% of the fund would be for you as foreign partner.
Thereafter I will visit your country for investment of the balance under your advisement.
To enable the immediate transfer of the fund to your nominated account, you would have to fill the next of kin application form.
There you will designate your bank account where the money will be remitted. Upon receipt of your mail indicating your interest, I will send to you a copy of the form and the account /Deceased information you would need to fill,
including the copy of the death certificate.
Send your direct fax,telephone numbers and E-mail address for effective
communication that this transaction needs.
Please view the website.
www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html
Hope to hear from you soonest.
Yours Faithfully.
MR.jackson brawn.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam