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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "mark kone" <mark.kone30@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mark.kone@voila.fr
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:44:02 +0000
Subject: FROM MR MARK KONE

DEAR friend,
              BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
My name is Mr.Mark Kone. A Banker and accountant with a bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. I am the personal accounts manager to Engr.MORRISON SWIFT,who used to work with an oil servicing company here in Cote d'Ivoire.

My client, his wife, and their three children were involved in the illfated  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 his embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but has been Unsuccessful.

 

After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to propose to you  that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Engr.MORRISON SWIFT,hence I contacted you.Of particular interest is this huge deposit with our bank here in Abidjan cote d'Ivoire, where the deceased has an account valued at about (US$7 million US dollars). My bank have issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or the bank will declare the account unserviceable and there by send the funds to the bank treasury.

 

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I will seek your consent to present you as the next  of kin of the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($7million US

dollars) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money. All I require is your honest co-operation  to  enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be  executed  under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach  of the law. If you can handle this with me reply me.

Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation.
Mr.Mark kone.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam