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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:
  • "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))
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Erik Koofi <erikoofi02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <erikoofi@worker.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:47:14 +0000
Subject: Fund Transfer(Reply Immediately)


From Mr Erik Koofi
Auditting Department Unit,
Financier Bank Togo.(F.B.T) 20, Rue Du Commerce, B.P.3302 Lome Togo
With Due Respect,

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 50, and work
with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the West Coast). Here
in this bank existed a dormant account for the past years which belong
to a American national who is now Late Mr.Richard Burson who died on
Egypt Air Flight 990 as you can comfirm from this web page:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm


When I discovered that there had been no deposits nor
withdrawals from this account for this long period, I decided to carry
out a system investigation and discovered that non of the family member
nor relations of the late person is aware of this account. This is the
story in a nutshell.

Now I want an account overseas where the
bank will transfer this funds.Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all
related documents for this account. It is a careful network and for the
past eleven months I 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$ 25.5
million US Dollars).Twenty Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars.

Now our questions are:- 1. Can you handle this project? 2. Can I give you this trust? 3. Mail with your full name,phone & fax number...........

Consider
this and get back to me as soon as possible. Finally, it is my humble
prayer that the information as contained herein be accorded the
necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. I expect your urgent response if you can handle this project. Best regards
Mr Erik Koofi
(F.B.T)Togo.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam