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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: "usman sankara" <usman_sankara010@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: usmansankara001@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 10:58:51 +0000
Subject: Your kind attention needed.

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 Sankara, 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 this bank 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
Fifteen million three hundred thousand United States dollars(US$15.3m), 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 your self 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 to
be 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 set aside 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.

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

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam