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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22997283173 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • barr_rolandkoffi2004@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: roland koffi <barr_rolandkoffi022003@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 10:23:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Family Estate.Attn; Mr Jan Jansen


BARRISTER ROLAND KOFFI
Financial Attorneys & Notary Public
08 BP 571, Cotonou,
République du Bénin
Telephone: +229-97 28 31 73.
Email:barr_rolandkoffi2004@hotmail.com

ATTN; Mr Jan Jansen,


I know by all standards that this mail will come to you as a surprise.Though I crave your indulgence,if this contact embrasses or offends you.May I use this medium to introduce myself to you,my name is ROLAND KOFFI,a lawyer by profession.Considering this,I was privledged to be a solicitor to MR.B.JANSEN,a national of your country,who was a Cocoa and Cotton Merchant here in Cotonou,Benin,Republic,West Africa.Hereinafter known to be my to be my client in Cotonou,Benin Republic.

To butress my point and reason of this contact,on the 18th of June,2004,my client,his wife and two children died in an auto crash along Como expressway,as fate will have it,all the occupants in the Car unfortunately lost their precious lives and since then I have made unfruitful inquiries and effeorts to your embassy here in search or locate any of my late client's Kiths or Kin without success.

Meanwhile,after my several unfruitful search,I resorted to search and look for his last name on the internet,all in my desire to locate any member of his Kith or Kin hence this contact is concerned.This contact is occassioned by the real fact that my client,deposited the sum of USD$8,320,000.00(Eight Million,Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollars Only)in a Finance and Security Company here in Cotonou,Benin Republic and I want you to accept to work with me,so that I can front and present you to this Finance and Security Company as the next of kin to my late client because this Finance and Security Company wants to confiscate this money because the account has been unserviceable for years now.

However,this Finance and Security Company now notified me to provide the next of kin or the money will be forefeited in two months time.Now I have made unfruitful attempts to locate any of his Kiths or Kin for upto two years now,and I use this medium to seek and solicit your genuineness of purpose to work with me in goodfaith to enable me front and present you as the next of kin to the deceased hence you bear the same last name with my late client.This is because,I want this money to be paid to you as the next of kin to this deposit.

To this end,on getting any favourable response from you,I will then be able to discuss with you the transfering formalities and sharing modalities.Be rest assured that I have all the legal documentary evidences needed to back you up for this inheritance claim.All I want from you is your Sincerity,Honesty and full cooperation to enable us execute and champion this projection for our own mutual benefits.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

I will need the following informations from you,
Your Full Name and Address..................
Your Age....................................
Occupation and position.....................
Your Telephone /fax numbers for easy ,safe and effective communications.
PLEASE THIS IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
For privacy reply to my private
Email: barr_rolandkoffi2004@hotmail.com

Yours Faithfully,

Roland Koffi Esq.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam