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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:
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • anitapatkabila@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Patricia Anta kabila" <bigbufallo@usa.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: anitapatkabila@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:31:00 +0100
Subject: for your kind attention

REPUBLIC OF BENIN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (SONACOF)
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX – COTONOU FOREIGN CONTRACT PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
TEL:FAX : 00229 95 055020 EMAIL;
..anitapatkabila@yahoo.com
DearSir,
With much sincerity of purpose we make this contact with you after satisfactory information
we adhered from the Chamber of Commerce here in Benin though we did not disclose the nature of the transaction
to them, believing that you will provide us a feasible solution to job / services rendered for the Benin National Petroleum Corporation (SONNACOF)
by Foreign Companies. Although it might be a surprise to you, it is my sincere pleasure to intimate you with this confidential business proposal,
which will certainly benefit all of us involved. I am a Senior Accountant with the Benin National Petroleum Corporation Headquarters, COTONOU.
I have decided with some colleagues in the SOCIETY GENERAL BANK BENIN (SGB) and The Federal Ministry of Finance to contact you secretly
on this business for the arrangement of transferring the sum of US$9.5M (NINE Million, Five Hundred thousand
company or personal account through the SOCIETY GENERAL BANK BENIN. However,
concrete arrangement has been made to remit the fund successfully into your account.
This money emanated from over invoiced contract awarded to a Foreign Firm.
The contract was executed in 2001 and the exact amount has been paid to the initial executor of the project,
remaining the above invoiced amount.
Being Government officials, we are prevented by the Law from operating Foreign Bank Account while still in the Government service,
hence the need for your assistance.
REMITTANCE OUTLINE: 1.IN OUR ACCOUNT: We shall secure payment approval from relevant offices here,
for the release of the contract sum in favour of your personal or company’s account, with the information we shall equire from you,
we have already concluded arrangement to secure a fast approval so that the fund could be transferred within a period of 7 working days.
And two (2) officials will be coming over there to stay with you before the arrival of the money into your account for the disbursement.
2.YOUR GOOD SELF: You are expected to furnish us with the necessary instruments to remit the money, like: the name and address of your company,
name and address of your bank and your bank particulars for easy transfer, most importantly, you should ensure that the minimum tax is paid (if any).
On arrival of the funds, you will be expected to advise us on investment plans since we do not intend bringing the whole part of our share back to Benin.
3.TERMS AND CONDITION: For rendering these services, we have decided that 25% of the total fund be given to you, 70% will be for us (Benin Group) and 5% will be kept for all miscellaneous expenses.
This transaction is 100% risk-free; you need not to be afraid. However, it requires your maximum cooperation, serious mutual trust, honesty and absolute confidentiality.
To avoid jeopardizing this transaction and the position of the Government functionaries involved.
Please let me know your position through my email address below as soon as this gets to you also include your direct Tel/Fax number for easy communication. Details are reserved
until we hear from you.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Anita Kabila

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam