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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27736538696 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • mkmbomas@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mr mike mboma" <mrmikemboma.1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mkmbomas@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:37:47 +0200
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL


Dear Sir/Madam

Compliments, I Mike oma, have decided to bestow this trust on you, which I
pray you will not ignore or betray me. I apologize in advance for any
inconveniences this may cause you knowing that you may have received this
letter in the past, but I am here to let you know that this is a genuine and
100% risk free business proposal. I am Mr. Mike Oma, the chief executive
(ABSA BANK) of South Africa. the late Dr. Sabir Mohammed Hassan, who was a
Sudanese contractor here in Johannesburg South Africa, Who on December 2003,
with his entire family were perished in the Air-Crash on board From Cotonou.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm As a matter of fact, Mr. Sabir
M. Hassan made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at (USD $25 M) Twenty five
Million United States Dollars with our bank, Amalgamated Bank of South
African (ABSA) and upon the duration time of their agreement, our bank
started contacting him but no response. Consequently, the Board issued me a
notice to provide Dr.Sabir Mohammed Hassan next of kin before the bank have
his account confiscated after four years, as it is in the law of our
country. Since then, I have made several contacts to His Countries Embassy
in order to locate any of his extended relatives, which had also been
unsuccessful.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since none of his relatives were no way to be found so that the proceeds of
this account valued at USD $ 25 Million, could be transferred into your
account, thereafter, we will all share it in percentage according to our
contributions to boost the success of this great transaction. We have all
the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up all the claims we
will make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us making this
great benefiting transaction successfully. I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law. Please get in touch with me as fast as possible to
enable us discuss further the progress of this business, but if you feel
uncomfortable to participate in this deal please ignore this massage and
pretend you never receive this information.

Thank you very much for your cooperative understanding, and looking forward
to receive your positive reply to this regard. And as a matter of fact keep
this deal confidential.

Yours faithfully,
HON: Mike Oma
DIRECT CONTACTS:
Tell: +27-73-65386-96
email - mkmbomas@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam