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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:

• 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • henrymazak@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3ahenrymazak@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mk_aliuu61@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:38:51 +0100
Subject: TOP SECRET


MR.HENRY MAZAK
SUPERVISORY MANAGER,
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA(UBA).
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO.
EMAIL:henrymazak@yahoo.com <EMAIL%3Ahenrymazak@yahoo.com>


Dear Friend,

(TOP SECRET)
I am Henry Mazak,the supervisory manager at the United Bank for Africa(UBA)
Ouagadougou,Burkina Faso,West Africa.With due respect and regard. I have
decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very
beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction .

During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on
July 31st 2003 in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his account
with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his
family or relation before our discovery to this development.

The said amount was U.S $17.5M (Seventeen million five hundred thousand
United States dollars). As it may interest you to know, I got your
impressive information and email address through the International web
directory of Burkina Faso chamber of commerce on foreign business relations
here in Ouagadougou Burkina-faso.

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased,to get the required approval and
transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place and
directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you
indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your
self to this great business opportunity.

In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this
country as a civil servant(A Banker),we are not allowed to operate a foreign
account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of
transfer because I work in this bank. This is the actual reason why it will
require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin
with affidavit of trust of oath to the Bank and also present a foreign
account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his
request as it may be after due verification and clarification by the
correspondent branch of the bank where the whole money will be remitted from
to your own designation bank account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 30% of the
total sum as gratification, while 5% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone
bills, while 65% will be for me. Please, you have been adviced to
keep "top secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service
after we conclude this deal with you.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm
the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for
subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated
and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice us
to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when
I hear from you.

I look forward to receive your email and reply to my email address
(henrymazak@yahoo.com)
as the urgency implies.

Yours faithfully,
MR.Henry Mazak
EMAIL:henrymazak@yahoo.com <EMAIL%3Ahenrymazak@yahoo.com>

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam