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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:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Fatima Ali" <mrsfat1@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: mrsfatima_ali1@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 21:03:17 +0200
Subject: From Mrs Fatima: For Investment


From Mrs Fatima: For Investment
Good Day,

I am writting this letter with due respect and heartful of tears since we
have not known or met ourselves previously. I am asking for your assistance
after getting your contact from a reliable source.I want to find out if it's
possible for you to deal with individual as to investment.
I came across your name and address and after praying over it, i decided to
get across to you in respect of investment at my disposal.I will be so glad
if you can allow me and lead me to the right channel towards your
assistance to my situation now.I will make my proposal well known if I am
given the opportunity.

I would like to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you.Well I am
Mrs Fatima Ali the Wife of Alh. Ibrahim Ali, a diamond dealer from KENEMA
in Sierra Leone. My husband is now late,he died some months back during the
last and current crisis in my country(Sierra Leone).
He was Killed by the rebels for refusing to join and sponsor them,the main
reason why I am contacting you now is to seek your assistance in the area
of my future investment and also for a help hand over some huge amount of
money he deposited with a private securitie company in Benin Republic.

This money (US$15 Million)is deposited in a secuirty and finance company
in Cotonoun Benin some years ago by my husband and he made me the sole
beneficiary . I am now asking you to stand on my behalf to claim the
deposit from the security company and assist me on investing it as well in
your country. I have made up my
mind to offer you 27% of the total money and also map out 5% for any
expensive that will be made during the transaction while the remaining will
go into a productive investment.

As I have mention earlier I will make the procedure to this transaction to
be well know to you,if I am given the opportunity to do so. Please if you
are ready to assist me,send me your full name and contact address with your
phone number as you reply to this mail.
Thanks and remain bless.

Mrs Fatima Ali.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam