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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mourien Alfred" <mourienalfred@klikni.cz>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 17:16:29 +0200
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY


*Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to present this proposal for the purpose of investment in your
country. My name is mourien Alfred,I am 23 years old. I am the daughter of
HON.Alami Morgan Alfred the former Minister of Transport and Communication
with the present Government of President Alhaji Dr. yusuf mohamood Ali of
Sierra-Leone. My father were arrested on 1st of Nov 2003 by mohamood
Government on allegation of using their postion in the Govenment to aid
smuggling of diamond from the Kenya diamond field,it was just a political
vendetta.My father later died in the prison,it was diagnonised that he was
poisoned, but Government report says heart failure.

Whatever it is,let God be the judge. He sent a note to me before his death,
regarding a deposit of the sum of (USD$15,200.000.00) fifitheen Million Two
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars in this BANK. He instructed US to
move mmediately with the documents to a neighbouring country to seek asylum.
We moved to the Republic of Mali where we spent some time before finally
moving to Cotonou De federal Republic of Benin, to enquire about the
deposit.My mother is serious sick and was admitte as hospita here Cotonou De
federal Republic of Benin, so i am kind of desolete.

Meanwhile i have located the bank,and have also discussed the possible
transfer of the fund to broad.Unfortunately,my father left a clause that the
fund should not be released to me untill i attend the age of 30,or i have to
introduce a trusted foreign partner who would be my trustee and
investor,hence the need for your assistance. I request that you be my
trustee and assist me in effecting the transfer of the fund to your account
or an account you will nominate.

You will also be resposible for the investment and management of the fund
untill i am able to join you after my education your country. You and us
will agree on a percentage you will take for your assistance. Please let me
know immediately if you can assist me so that I will give you more
informations about the deposit.
I thank you in anticipation to your quick response.

You's in God,
Miss.Mourien Alfred *

**

**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam