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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "mapo.5 Gazeta.pl" <mapo.5@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:56:28 -0700
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME


Dear Friend

Compliment of the season

I am Mr. Mapo Kwadwo (Esq.) a Solicitor & Financial Attorney/Consultant in
Accra , Ghana , West Africa . I was the personal attorney to late Mr. Donald
Hanson, who was a top Frank Howard Allen Realtors, and also an avid
community volunteer and a world traveler.

On the 31st January 2004, my client, his wife and two kids were involved in
a car accident along Tema motorway. All occupants of the vehicle
unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to embassies around to locate any
of my clients extended relatives, but this has also proved unsuccessful. And
I have sent letter to the address of my client but never received a
response.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name
over the Internet to locate any member of his family hence It wasn't
successful and I have contacted you having in mind that you might not know
him, but with your personality and position as his fellow countryman we can
achieve this aim.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security
Company where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Montgomery
Vaults where the deceased had an account valued at about Twelve Million
Eight Hundred Thousand United states Dollars US$12.8M whom have severally
issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the account
confiscated to the Government funds.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 4 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin so that the
proceeds of this account valued at (US$12.8M) can be paid to you and then
you and me can share the money. I wish to point out that after the claims, I
would want 20% of this money to be shared among charity organizations, while
the remaining 80% is shared equally between us.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us in seeing this deal
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Best Regards
MR. MAPO KWADWO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam