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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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • "dormant account" (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: isdow tete <isdow_tete11@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <isdow_tete1000@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 10:09:49 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF DR ISDOW TETE:::::::::::Wanosky



FROM THE DESK OF DR ISDOW TETEAUDITING DEPARTMENT ITCB.LOME TOGO WEST AFRICA

Dear friend,

I got your address via the internet. I have a proposal for you this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will.
I am 46, and had worked with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the West Coast). Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 4 years which belong to a national of your country who is now late and On the 26th December 2003, out late customer, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a plane crash in a village called Adjarra near Porto Novo after take off from Cotonou in Benin Republic where they went for a Concert.
It was unfortunate that the deceased and his family all lost their lives in that crash. For more on the plane crash log on tohttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

After discussing my view and your profile with my colleagues, they were very much satisfied and decided to contact you immediately for this mutual business relationship.
When we discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this account for this long period, I and my two other colleagues decided to carry out a system investigation and discovered that non of the family member nor relations of the late client is aware of this account. This is the story in a nutshell. Now we want an account overseas where we can transfer this funds.

Thereafter, we had planned to destroy all related documents to this account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months we have worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation. The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this account stands at-US$8.5million US dollars.

Now our questions are:1. Can you handle this project?2. Can we give you this trust?3. Can you sponsor this project?4. What will be your commission?

After due considering of the above questions kindly get back to us as soon as possible.
Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as contained herein be accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. We Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project.
Respectfully yours,DR. Isdow Tete
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam