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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)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Hassan <kinross4@dragnet.com.au>
Reply-To: iiiliili@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:22:40 +0200
Subject: Re: Urgent response needed please.

Dear Friend,

I know we have not meet before but I am inspired to send you this email of
huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to both of
us.I
am Hassan Issa Turaki ,Credit officer TRUST FINANCIAL COMPANY here in
cotonou.I believe that you will not betrayed me at last with the trust i
intend putting on you.A foreigner,an Arab,Late Engr.MAHMUD ALI IBRAHIM
(snr)
an iron steel company chairman with the Federal Government here in Benin
until
his death some years ago in an Auto crash deposited with us US$24,000,000
(Twenty Four million United States Dollars).

The company now expects a next of kin as beneficiary of this money and
valuable efforts has been made by TRUST FINANCIAL COMPANY to get in touch
with any of the MAHMUD ALI'S family or relatives but to no avail.It is
because
of the inability to locate any of Late Engr MAHMUD ALI IBRAHIM (snr)'s next
of
kin (he had no wife or children that is known to us) that the
management under the influence of our chairman and members of the board of
directors,have made arrangements for the fund to be declared Unclaimed and
subsequently be used to import ammunitions into our country.

However,In order to avert this negative development,some of my trusted
colleagues and and myself now seek your permission to have you stand as
next
of kin to late Engr MAHMUD ALI IBRAHIM (snr) so that this fund
US$24,000,000
will be released and transferred into your account as the beneficiary.All
documents and proofs to enable you get this fund has been carefully
worked out.

We have secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the
deceased beneficiaries, and more so, we are assuring you that this
business
is legal and risk free.
We would furnish you with the necessary disbursement ratio to suite both
parties on your reply to this mail.If this proposal is acceptable to you,
do
not hasitate to contact me. You should include your following information
when
replying:
1) Your full name and address.
2) Your direct telephone number.
3) Your age and profession.

Looking forward to your urgent response.

Regards,
Hassan Issa Turaki.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam