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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "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.)
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: james koffi <jameskoffi113@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:05:24 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR CO-OPERATION NEEDED MR Micheal Gallatin


FROM THE DESK OF JAMES CADO,
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT,
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT,
(IBA), INTERNATIONAL BANK OF AFRICA
LOME TOGO.

Dear Micheal Gallatin ,

I am quite convinced of the fact that this will come to you as a surprise. however I am writing based on the privileged information I gathered about you in internet during my extensive search for a repose foreign partner who is competent of assisting me in below business
proposal.

I am JAMES CADO, The director in charge of auditing and accounting section of INTERNATIONAL BANK OF AFRICA, Lome Togo in west Africa with due respect and regards. 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 my investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came across an abandoned sum of $14.7m US dollars (fourteen million seven hundred thousand US dollars.)In an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer who died along with his entire family in March 2002 in a plane crash.

Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money because the bank cannot release the fund unless somebody
applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.

It is therefore upon this discovery that I decided to make this business proposal to you so that the bank can release the money to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and I don't want this fund to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill.

The Banking law here stipulates that if such money remains unclaimed for five years, it will be for fitted to the Bank Treasury as an unclaimed bill. I cannot stand as the next of Kin to a foreigner as a civil servant .It is upon this discovery that I have decided to contact you to
collaborate with me to pull out this dormant fund.

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 to the bank and also present a foreign account where you will need the money to be re-transferred will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free.

You have been advised to keep top secret as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after I have concluded this deal with you. I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm the money in your account.

The sharing ratio and modalities of this transfer, note that I intend to share the fund as follows:60% FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, 30% FOR ME AND10% will be set aside to take
care of any expenses that arise during the time of transaction before the normal sharing.

Why I decided to give you 60% was that you are going to apply as the bonafide next of kin to the bank, mine is just to give necessary details that will back you as the real next of kin.

Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you the text of the application. This transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear as all required arrangements have been made for the transfer. This transaction will only take a maximum of 14 bank working days.

Further Information will be given to you as soon as I receive your positive response.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr James Koffi.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam