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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:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "you will take 25%" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS ALIMA AHMED" <mrs_alimaahmed3@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:48:46 +0200
Subject: Please Use This Donation Well For The Less Privilege.


From Mrs Alima Ahmed!

Dear faithful One,

Bismillâhi-r-Rahmâni-r-Rahîm, Al-Hamdulillâhi Was-Salâtu Was-Salâmu 'Alâ
Rasûlillâh, Wa Ba'd,

With due respect and humility, I write to you irrespective of the fact that
you don't know me. I got your contact through the international directory on
internet when I was making inquiry for foreign assistance. I have decided to
contact and bestow trust in you, which I pray you will not ignore. I
apologize in advance for any inconveniences that this proposal may cause to
you. Handle this discretely and contact me urgently if you can assist me in
this transaction

I am Mrs Alima Ahmed, of Republic of Benin, widow to Late Mr. Usman Abdul
Ahmed (for Consular of the Benin embassy in Madrid,Spain.I have been
recently been diagnosed of Cancer of the Pelvic. I am writing from my sick
bed.

There is this consignment (contains US$29.5Million cash, in US$100 bills) my
husband deposited with a security company, here in Cotonou, Republic of
Benin of which I am the next of kin. With my health condition and because my
husband and I have no children, I am looking for a credible person to whom I
will pass the right of next of kin. This person will apply to the company
and request, from them, the procedure towards retrieving the consignment
from them.

This is on the condition that you will take 25% of the fund for yourself, 5%
used for expenses, while you will use the remaining 70% for the less
privileged people in the society. This is in fulfilment of the last request
of my husband: that a substantial part of the fund is used to carter for the
less privileged.

If this condition is acceptable to you, you should contact me immediately
with your full names and contact information so that I will send you all the
documents that the company gave to my husband when the consignment was
deposited. So that you will contact the company directly, and demand from
them the procedure towards retrieving the consignment from their company.

I cannot predict what will be my fate by the time you will receive the fund,
but you should please ensure that the fund is used as I have described
above. I look forward to your response.

Yours,
Mrs. Alima Ahmed.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam