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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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 sum 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)
  • ",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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: mr Abedi <mr_abedi1000@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mr.amaraabedi2008@y7mail.com
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 04:13:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL








=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 TOP=A0 SECRET

I am Mr. Amara Abedi,=A0the director in charge of auditing and accounting s=
ection of Bank of Africa,Ouagadougou Burkina faso West Africa with due resp=
ect and regard.I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that=
=A0 will be very beneficial to both of=A0 us at the end of the transaction.=
=20

During our investigation=A0 and auditing in this bank , my department came =
across a very huge sum of money=A0 belonging=A0 to a deceased person=A0 who=
died on=A031rst january=A02000 in a plane crash and the fund has been dorm=
ant in his account with this Bank with out any claim of the fund=A0 in our =
custody either from his family or relation before our discovery to this dev=
elopement.=20

The said amount was( EIGHTHEEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLERS.($18,000,000.00=
)Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put the claim over this fund as the=
bonafide next of kin to the deceased;get the required approval and transfe=
r this money to a foriegn account=A0 has=A0 been put in place and directive=
s and needed information will be relayed to you=A0 as soon as=A0 you indica=
te your=A0 interest and willingness to assist us and=A0 also benefit your s=
elf to this great business opportunity.=20

Infact i could have done this deal alone=A0 but because=A0 of my position i=
n this country as a civil servant(A Banker) we are not=A0 allowed=A0 to ope=
rate=A0 a foriegn account and would eventually=A0 raise=A0 an eye=A0 brow=
=A0 on my side during=A0 the time of transfer becuase i work=A0 in this ban=
k. This is the reason why it will require=A0 a second party or fellow=A0 wh=
o=A0 will forward claims=A0 as the next of kin to the bank=A0 and=A0 also p=
resent=A0 a foriegn account where he will need the money=A0 to be=A0 retran=
sferred into=A0 on his request as it may be after due verification and clar=
ification by the correspondent branch=A0 of the bank where the=A0 money wil=
l be remitted from to your own designation bank account.=20

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction=A0 is 100% risk free.On=
=A0 smooth conclusion of this=A0 transaction;you will be entitled=A0 to 30%=
of the total=A0 sum as gratification;while5% will be set aside to take care=
of expenses that may arise during the time of=A0 transfer=A0=A0 and also t=
elephone bills; while 65% will be for me.Please;you have been adviced to ke=
ep=A0 top secret as i am still in service and intend to retire=A0 from serv=
ice after we conclude=A0 this deal with you.=20

I will be monitoring=A0 the whole=A0 situation here in this bank=A0 until y=
ou confirm the money=A0 in your account=A0 and ask=A0 me to come=A0 down to=
your country=A0 for subsequent sharing of the fund according=A0 to=A0 perc=
entages previously=A0 indicated and further investment,either in=A0 your co=
untry or any country=A0 you advice us to invest.All other necessary vital=
=A0 information will be sent to=A0 you when i hear from you.=20

I=A0 look forward to=A0 receive your email .=20
Yours=A0 faithfully=20
Mr. Amara Abedi=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam