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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "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. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +22996102415 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "office.ykossou@yahoo.com" <redexpresse@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: office.ykossou@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:46:08 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello:J. Rijcke



Avocat YVES A. KOSSOU
06 BP 1416
Cotonou,Benin
Tel: +229-96-10-24-15
 
 
Attention:  Rijcke
 
 
 
Please kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you. I believe you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that I sourced your profile from a human resource profile database on your country. Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with eventsWerner. Well , I am Yves A .Kossou, a Solicitor. The Personal Attorney to Late Mr. Michael Rijcke, a national of your country, who used to work as the Director of Produits petroliers (TKleinOTAL BENIN) in Benin Republic West Africa.
 
On the 29th of JUNE 2003, my client, His wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident Along Sagbama express-road. Unfortunately, they all lost their lives in the event of the accident. Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.
 
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence, I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank here... These huge deposits were lodged particularly; with the "BANQUE ATLANTIQUE DU BENIN (BAB)" An affiliate of Commercial Bank of Africa where the Deceased had an account valued about $14.5 million dollars, (Nineteen million five hundred thousand dollars only).
 
The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated. Since I have been unsuccessful in Locating the relatives for over six years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name with him so that the proceeds of this account valued about $14.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then the sharing ratio should be 50% for me and 50% for you, I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up with our claim we will make with the Bank. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this Deal through.
 
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. And the way we are going to achieve this is that I will need the following information from you.
 
Your Full Name and Address, Your Age, Occupation and Position, Your Telephone and Mobile for Communication Purpose l await your reply as soon as possible.
 
Best Regards
Barrister YVES A. KOSSOU


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam