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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "witold ibure" <witoldibowusu@excite.com>
Reply-To: witoldibowusu@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:20:02 -0500 (EST)
Subject: REQUEST


Dear friend,



Compliments of the day, it is my pleasure to write you this email. My Name is Witold Ibure Owusu.I am 20 years of age and from the Democratic Republic of Sierra Leone. I got your contact from the office of the minister of commerce and Tourism in Accra Ghana.in my search for a trustful foreign partner. I would want you assist me to invest my funds in a business and also to help me clear my consignment boxes from the security company were they are deposited. My father is a King and also the chairman of Sierra-Leonian Diamond Mining Corporation, but he is late now. He was shot by rebels.



My mother and I are presently in United Nations refugee Camp in Accra Ghana, before the death of my father he disclosed to my mother where he deposited these consignments in a neighboring country in West Africa. He kept the consignments under a Security Company concealed in two trunk boxes as diamonds in their vault is $55 million United State dollars but only declared to the company as diamond stones and due to previous transaction of depositing diamonds in the past it was accepted.



The Security Company has accepted to release the consignment boxes to me if I come with my father's foreign partner. I am seeking your assistance because my father has declared the record with the security company at the time of deposit stating that his foreign partner shall be the person to make claim because of his position in government. As king,and also to make sure that i invest the money in a foreign country because i am the next of kin.



To this effect, I seek and request to make the beneficiary of these consignments in your name as foreign partner to my father. For your assistance, I will offer you 20% of the total money, I have all the legal documents with me.



To this effect every process to completely move this valuable may not exceed (5) working days, if your co-operation to assist is sort. I will go back to your country with you to invest my share of the money in any profitable business you may advice me. I await your reply.



Yours Sincerely,



Witold Owusu.









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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam