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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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • favourmartin121@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "FAVOUR MARTIN" <favourmartin@rediffmail.com>
Date: 6 Oct 2006 14:32:02 -0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED


FAVOUR MARTIN OPIA &amp; CO CHAMBERS(ATTORNEYS &amp; COUNSELORS AT LAW)FEDERAL HIGH COURT BENIN23 DEGBAGO CRESCENT,COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.E-Mail: (favourmartin121@yahoo.com)
Dear FRIEND,&nbsp;
Compliments, I favour martin Opia have decided to bestow this trust on you,which I pray you will not ignore or betray. I apologise in advance for any inconveniences this may cause you. I am jeff martin Opia the Personal Attorney to late Mr T. A. Marshal, who was a contractor here in Benin Republic. Who, on the 3rd of Oct 2005, with his entire family were perished in a fierceful Auto-Crash along Midombo Togo express way.
As a matter of fact, my client made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at (USD$10.7M) with Reliance Bank Benin here in Cotonou Benin Rep, and upon the duration time of their agreement his bank started contacting him but no response. Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to the deceased as his personal attorney, or have his account confiscated after four years, as it is in the law of this country.
Since then, I have made several contacts to His Countries Embassy in order to locate any of my clients extended relatives, which had also been unsuccessful. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years now,I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since none of his relatives were no way to be found so that the proceeds of this account valued at $10.7m could be transferred into your account, Thereafter, we will both share it in percentage according to our contributions to boost the success of this great transaction.
&nbsp;I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up all the claims we will make.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us make this great benefiting transaction successfully. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please get in touch with me as fast as possible through this E-Mail:favourmartin121@yahoo.com to enable us discuss further the progress of this business.
With best regards,favour martin&nbsp; Opia,Senior advocate of Benin (SAB).&nbsp;

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam