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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "inheritance tax" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "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)
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Mohamedkamara Mohamedkamara <mohamedkamara_00@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 03:48:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Good Day,


Good Day,

I am Mr,MOHAMEDKAMARA. from Republc of Lome Togo beasd in Guinee, personal Assistant to Mr Micheal George,Oil Merchant / contractor with Gabon/TotalFinaElf Service Company in Oil Field Services in Gabon .On Monday, October 22, 2005 , my Boss was killed in Motor Accident Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my Boss extended relatives. This has proved unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist in repartriating the money left behind by my Boss before theyget confiscated or declared unserviceable by the security Company where this deposit was lodged.

Particularly, the Security Company where the deceased had an account valued at US$37,500,000.00 (thirty seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). The Security Company issued me a notice to provide the next -of- kin or have the account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives ,

I seek your consent to present you as the Next-of-kin to the deceased since there was no way to locate any of his relatives , sothat the proceeds of this account valued at US$37.5M can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money; 60% to me and 35% to you, while 5% will be for expenses and inheritance tax, as your government may require. I have all necessary legal documents that will be used to back up our inherittance claims. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please contact me by my email address or rather , I would like you to contact me on email.

YOUR FULL NAME.

YOUR RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE ADDRESSES.

YOUR TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER.

VALID COPY OF IDENTITY.

Yours faithfully,

MOHAMEDKAMARA


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam