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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

Fraud email example:

From: koffi adams <koffi_adams08@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <koffi.adams02@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:38:05 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS TO YOU



FROM The Desk of Mr. Koffi AdamsE.c.o. Bank.Benin Republic, West Africa.
Dear Friend, Mutual Business Relationship. I am Mr. Koffi Adams the manager of bill and exchange at the foreign remittance department of E.c.o.Bank I have urgent and confidential business proposition for you, during our official auditing, verifications/investigations in our bank at the end of last fiscal(financial)year, I discovered the sum of USD$6.5m dollars(Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars)in a dormant account belonging to a major contractor with ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES ECOWAS).I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.
After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers,(ECOWAS)Benin Republic, that he died in the October,1999 plane crash with Egyptian air line. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making his "WILL» and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.
I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.This sum of sum of US $6.5m dollar (Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year.No one will ever come forward to claim it.
According to Beninese banking Law, at the expiration of 7(seven) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Beninese Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to act as next of kin to him so that the fruits of this old man’s labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials here in Benin Republic. We will share the money in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you and my plan is to invest my own share of the money in your country.
Therefore, be kind to clarify the following for my consideration:
1. What other lucrative investments would you suggest as I intend banking, real estate and hotels if they are good business venture in your Country?.
2. Can you be able to make residential documents and purchase a house for me and my family to relocate and settle in your country?.
I decided to give you this percentage in order to motivate you and also to let you feel satisfied at the end of this transaction.
I look forward to your earliest reply. email: koffi.adams02@yahoo.fr
Yours Truly, Mr. Koffi Adams.



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