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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:
  • "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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "jean kebo" <jeankeb0116@gala.net>
Reply-To: jean_kebo01@myway.com
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:10:35 +0200
Subject: From Jean Kebo


Greetings

My name is Jean Kebo a Banker and accountant with Bank Atlantique Cote
Ivoire.I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of alarge sum
of money from a dormant account. Though I know that a transaction of this
magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you
that all will be well at the end of the day.

I am the personal accounts manager to customer Late Frank Thompson who used
to work with an oil servicing company here in Cote Ivoire.My client, his
wife, and their three children were involved in the ill fated Kenya Airways
crash in the coasts of Abidjan in January 2000 in which all passengers on
board died. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my
clients extended relatives but has been unsuccessfu after several
unsuccessful attempts.Of a particular interest is this huge deposit with our
bank here in ourcountryCoteDivoire,where the deceased has an account valued
at about ($16 million US dollars).

They haveissued me a notice to provide the next of kin or our bank will
declare the account unservisable and thereby send the funds to the bank
treasury.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over
last 6 years now, I will seek your consent to present you as the beneficiary
so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($16million US dollars) can
be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. In your reply
mail, I want you to give me your full names, address, date of birth,
telephone and fax numbers.If you can handle this with me, reach me for more
details.

Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,
Jean Kebo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam