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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "prince emmanue" <youngprince02@mail.mn>
Reply-To: fanda200_08@live.fr
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:33:24 +0100
Subject: Dearest One,


Dearest One,

Good Day and how are you and your family as well as your work?



I hope fine. Please, I am very sorry to bother you with my problem. Please
know that it's not by mistake I am contacting you but by the special grace
of God and for your kind assistance.


My name is Fanny Davis from Benin Republic. I am 17 years old and the only
child of my late parents late {Chief and Mrs. Gabriel Davis} I do not know
my mother, she died when I was a baby.My father established his cocoa
business in Benin, and he died shortly of heart attack his death has now
made me orphan and i am exposed to danger.

Before the unfortunate death of my father,he called me on his bedside and
reveal to me about some funds $9.5 million U.S.Dollars and gold dust which
he kept inside two metallic boxes and deposited it with a Security Company
as a family treasure. Since the death of my father, my uncles have sent me
out of our house, they said that i am a female child that i do not have any
rite in the family and they call is their custom.I am presently living with
a certain pastor and his family here in Benin.

My father said he used my name as his only child as his next of kin to the
deposit and in case he fails to make it that I should take care of myself
and get someone to help invest the money for me. I have all the papers with
me here and the key to the boxes, my father did not disclose the content of
the two trunk boxes to the security company to avoids the officials from
raising eye brows to the funds.

Presently I have contacted the security company about my claim of the trunk
boxes but the security company told me that my father made an agreement with
the company management that they should not release the two trunk boxes to
me until I am 30 years and without a foreign partner that is why i am
seeking for your assistance to help me stand before the company as my
foreign beneficiary partner or my guardian to receive the trunk boxes in
your country so that i can come over to meet you and continue my education.

Please help me and stand for me as my guardian and contact the security
company. I will love it most if you will come down here so that after the
transaction i will go back with you to your country for a better future.I am
willing to offer to you 15% of the total sum as a compensation for your help
and you are still going to be the one to help me with the investment of this
money since i do not have any idea about investment.
Expecting your soonest respond: fanda200_08@live.fr
Thank you and God bless you.
Truly,
Fanny Davis

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam