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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: services services <orangelnet15@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <gaston-memel@financier.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:12:26 +0000
Subject: Mr.Gaston Fote Memel {highly confidential}



Mr.Gaston Fote Memel
The Director of Internal Control Unit

ATTN: Sir/Madam, My name is Mr.Gaston Fote Memel.The director of internal control unit and branch manager of my bank in Abidjan-Cote d’Ivoire.I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.

On June 1st 2001 ,a foreign customer and a business mogul made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve Calendar months, valued at USD$10,750,000.00 (Ten Million,Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars)in my Branch. He was a business morgul based here in Cote d'Ivoire specialised in exportation of Cocoa and Coffe products in large quantities and also a well known dealer in Gold dust.

Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered that this our foreign customer was assasinated in a cold blood with members of his entire family including his housemaids in March 11, 2003 when a group of rebels called the "M.P.I.G.O" {Mouvement Patriotes de grande Ouest}invaded his residence in "MAN" a mountain region in the Western part of Cote d'Ivoire of about 400km away from Abidjan the capital of the country. On further investigation I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempt to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including his bank deposit paperwork. This sum of USD$10,750,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year, No one will come forward to claim it. According to Cote d’Ivoire Law, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Cote d’Ivoire Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin.

This is simple;

1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names, address, telephone/fax number,so that the accredited attorney with our bank will prepare the necessary documents ,affidavits,and letter of probate/administration in your favour which will put you in place as the next of kin for the fund transfer. 2) A bank account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin . The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 30% for you. . There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Director of accountant departement of this bank guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately .Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Awaiting your urgent reply
Mr.Gaston Fote Memel.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam