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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • frank_basil1011@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: frank_basil1@freenet.de
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:50:12 +0100
Subject: READ AND GET BACK TO ME



From DR.FRANK BASIL
1421 Alain Avenue Bankers Quaters,
Cotonou Benin
Republic.
TELEPHON+22993690793. PO.BOX221
Fax,number+229936754
Reply
Email: (frank_basil1011@sify.com )
My Dear Friend,

This letter must
come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a day that
people meet and become great friends and business partners. My name is
DR.FRANK BASIL, the present branch Manager of financial bank here in
Benin Republic West Africa.
I write you this proposal in good faith,
believing that I can trust you with the information I am about to reveal
to you. Like I said, I have a transaction that will benefit both of us,
as your assistance is required as a foreigner.

I use to head the
Accounts department in my bank head office, but last December I was
asked to take position of a Manager of our branch in Cotonou who passed
on, so that was how I became the present Manager and discovered a
fortune.
As I resumed duty, I discovered an account with total sum of
$11.5 million United State Dollars only that has not been operated on
for the past 4 years.
From my investigation, I found out that this
account belongs to a deceased person who died on november 2001 in a
plane crash.
I have kept a close monitoring of the account since then
and nobody has come forward to claim the money as next of kin to the
late client meaning that no one is aware of the account. I cannot
directly take out this money without the help of a foreigner and that is
why I am contacting you for an assistance to claim the funds and share
it with me.
As the director of my bank branch, I have the power to
influence the release of the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the
next of kin to the account, with the correct information concerning the
account, which I shall give you.
I am seeking your co-operation to
resent you as the next of kin to the account.There is practically no
risk involved, the transaction will be executedunder a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.
If you accept
to work with me, you will be entitled to 30% of the total sum as
gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses that
may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills, while
60% will be for me and my partners I suggest you get back to me as soon
as possible stating your which in this deal.
I NEEDED YOUR INFORMATION
BELOW
Your Name...................................................
Your
Age......................................................
Your
Address................................................
Your Phone and
Fax......................................
Your
Occupation............................................
Your Company
Name.....................................
Your Company
Address..................................
Your Email
Address........................................
Thanking you in advance
and may God bless you. Please, treat with utmost confidentiality. I wait
your urgent response Asap.
You can reach me on my private email address
for more details.
(frank_basil1011@sify.com)
Regards,
DR.FRANK,BASIL

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam