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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:
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Usman IBRAHIM." <usman_ibrahim26@msn.com>
Reply-To: <usmanibrahim@live.fr>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:09:46 +0000
Subject: FROM MR. USMAN IBRAHIM.......



Hello Dear,

This mail might come to you as a surprise and the
temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind but please
consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility.

I
am Mr. Usman Ibrahim, the manager in charge of Auditing department of Bank of
Africa (B.O.A)Ouagadougou Burkina Faso in West Africa, with due respect and
Regard, I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be
very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.

During our
investigation and auditing in this Bank, my department came across a very huge
sum of money belonging to one of our deceased customer who died on July 30th
2002 of a ghastly motor accident and the fund has been dormant in his account
with thisbank without any claim of the fund in our Custody either from his
family or relation before our discovery to this development.

Although
personally, I keep this information secret to enable the whole plans and idea be
Profitable and successful during the time of execution, the said amount is Nine
million three hundred thousand United States dollars(US$ 9.3m), as it may
interest you to know, I got your impressive information on my search for a
reliable partner, I contacted you to be my partner and person to be reliable and
capable to champion a business of such magnitude without any
problem.

Meanwhile all the arrangement to put claim over this fund as
the next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and transfer this
money to a foreign account has been put in Place and directives and needed
information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and
willingness to assist me and also benefit yourself to this great business
opportunity,In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position
in this country as a civil servant and we are not allowed to operate a foreign
account and would eventually raise eye brow on my side during the time of
transfer because I work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it
will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin
with affidavit of trust of oath to the bank and also present a foreign account
where he will need the money tobe re-transferred into on his request as it may
be after due verification and clarification by the correspondent branch of the
bank where the whole money will be remitted from to your own designation bank
account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100%
risk free, on smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30%
of the total sum as gratification, while 5% will be setaside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer, while 65% will be for me,
please you have been advised to keep "Top Secret" as I am still in service and
intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with you.

I
will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank Until you confirm the
money in your account, and ask us to come down to your country for subsequent
sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and further
Investment, either in your country or any country you advice us to invest in and
all other necessary vital information will be send to you when I hear from
you.

I suggest you get back to me As soon as possible and also include
your personal phone/mobile and fax numbers for easy communication. Please
Contact me as soon as possible via this medium [usmanibrahim@live.fr] which is
my only private Means of communication.

God bless you and your
family.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Usman Ibrahim.
The manager in charge
of
Auditing department of
Bank of Africa (B.O.A)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam