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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)
  • "transferred into your bank account" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Armel Sossou <armelsos1@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: armelss@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:00:36 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Hello My Friend!


Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Armel Sossou, a Supervisor in Ecobank, Cotonou-Benin Republic. It is my pleasure to seek for your assistance in this confidential business transaction,which will be of mutual benefit to both of us.

Mr.Ouéida Fati Beham an oil expartriate/contractor maintains a domiciliary account with our bank which I am the Account Relationship Officer and he has a credit balance of US$12.6 million in my branch On normal monthly routine notification, I sent a notice to his forwarded address but got no reply, After months we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employer (Shell Petroleum Corporation) that Mr.Ouéida Fati Beham died from an automobile accident while on vacation to his country.

All attempts by the Bank to trace his next of kin were fruitless On further investigation we found out that He died alongside with his Next of kin And until now no other person(s) knows about this account or could give any documentary evidence concerning this account,The total sum was US$12.6 million is still standing in his favour in my bank as dormant account, No one has ever come forward to claim it by virtue of banking law in Republic of Benin after two years the money will reverted to the Beninoise Government Treasury account, if the account owner is certified dead and nobody comes forward to claim it.

Now the most important thing is your support and your full coperation and also to Remain honest to me untill the end of this transaction, believing you will not disappoint me at the end after this money must have been fully processed and transferred into your bank account, At the conclusion of this business,we will have it share 40%-60% of the total amount,US$12.6 million, Plesaebe rest assured that as far as I am concerned this business is 100% risk free,because I have already covered every loop holes and also set my machinery at work to avoid traces.

Your's Faithfully,
Mr.Armel SOSSOU

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam