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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)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "remmitance department" (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)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "remmitance department" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "asinthe salam" <asinthe_salam2008@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: asinthesalam@netcourrier.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:53:43 +0200
Subject: SECRECY AND PERSONAL


Mr Asinthe Salam
Auditing and Accounting Unit
Foreign Operations Department
Credit Bank,Cotonou Branch,
Republic of Benin.

My Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Asinthe Salam,The Auditor in charge of Foreign Remmitance Department
of Credit Bank Benin in the Commercial city of Cotonou,Benin Republic.
This is a very confidential proposition for you.On July 21st 2003,an
Importer of Textiles and Automobiles for the past Thirteen years,late Mr.
BRETT HARWOOD made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar
months,valued at eighteen million seven hundred thousand United States
Dollars (US$18.7musd) in my branch upon maturity on October 20th 2004 as his
Credit Officer,I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got no reply.

After a month,we sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his
employees,that Mr.BRETT HARWOOD was one of the passengers who died with his
entire family in the ill-fated plane crash involving a UTA boeing 727
Chartered Flight that took off from Cotonou Benin Republic and crashed into
Atlantic Ocean on thursday 25th december 2003.

For further details of the Plane Crash,Please Visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm Further investigations,and all
attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless again,I made further
investigation and discovered that Late.Mr.BRETT HARWOOD did not declare any
next of kin or relations in all his official documents,including his Bank
Deposit paper work in my Bank. This sum of Fiften Million Five hundred
United States Dollars (US$15.5 million USD) is still sitting in my Bank no
one will ever come forward to claim it.

According to the International Banking ethics,codes and Laws,at the
expiration of five (5) years,the money will revert to the ownership of the
Benin Government if nobody applies to claim the fund consequently,my
proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of
kin to late Mr.BRETT HARWOOD. This is simple,I will like you to respond
immediately with your full names and contact informations so as I will send
to you a specimen copy of an application form which you will refill and send
to the bank putting claim over the said balance with the bank as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 45%
for me and 45% for you, while 5% will be set aside for any expenses that may
arise in the process of transfering this fund into your choosen/nominated
bank account you wish to receive it, and 5% to the motherless and the needy
in your country upon your response,I shall then provide you with more
details and relevant informations. Please send to me your confidential
telephone and fax numbers for easy communication,oral discussion and more
directives on what next to do.

You should observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country which you will be the
arrow head of the investment i must not fail to tell you that this
transaction is totally risk free and legitimate.

Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and GOD bless
Mr.Asinthe Salam.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam