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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe 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)
• 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.
  • john_paul20007@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3ajohn_paul20007@yahoo.it

Fraud email example:

From: "john_paul21 Gazeta.pl" <john_paul21@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 16:23:38 +0200
Subject: Thanking you in advance.


I am Mr. Paul Brown, Bank Manager of a Bank in Benin. And this is the urgent
and very confidential business proposition that I have for you.

On November 6, 2001, a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese
Solid Minerals Corporation, Made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve
calendar months, valued at US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Dollars) in my
branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his
contract employers, the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation that he died from
an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died
without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were
fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not
declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his
Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$30,000,000.00 is still
sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal
sum at the end of each year.

No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Republic Of
Benin, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, the money will revert to the
ownership/the Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in
as the next of kin to the man so that the fruits of this old man's labor
will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is
simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address
so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits
that will put you in place as the next of kin.

We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and authorization
of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the transfer.

A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60%
for me and 40% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. Upon your response,

I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will
help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential
telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my own share in your country.Your respond should
be through this email
address::::john_paul20007@yahoo.it<address%3A%3A%3A%3Ajohn_paul20007@yahoo.it>

Thanking you in advance.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr John Paul:

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam