419 scam: "Mr. Oseni Zongo" <ste_wil001@yahoo.co.jp> Dear Friend,

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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: "Mr. Oseni Zongo" <ste_wil001@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Oseni Zongo" <osenizongo@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 02:19:23 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,
>
> I know that this message might meet you in utmost surprise. However,
> it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact
> you for this transaction; I got your contact from the professional
> data base found in the internet Yahoo tourist search when I was
> searching for a foreign reliable partner. I assured of your capability
> and reliability to champion this business opportunity.
>
> I am (Mr. Oseni Zongo) a banker by profession from Cotonou ,Republic
> of Benin in west Africa and currently holding the post of Audits and
> Account manager at the foreign remittance department, African
> development bank(A.D.B) I have the opportunity of transferring the
> left over sum of ($10.5 Million Dollars) that belongs to late Mr. Rudi
> Harmanto, from Indonesia who died along with his entire family in the
> Asia Earth Quake (TSUNAMI, DISASTER IN INDONESIA / INDIA. 2004, and
> since then the fund has been in a suspense account.
>
> After my further investigation, I discovered that Mr. Rudi Harmanto
> died with his next of kin and according to the laws and constitution
> guiding this banking institution, stated that after the expiration of
> (10) years, if no body or person comes for the claim as the next of
> kin, the fund will be channel into national treasury as unclaimed
> fund. Because of the static of this transaction I want you to stand as
> the next of kin so that our bank will accord you their recognition and
> have the fund transfer to your bank account.
>
> Note that this transaction is risk-free; it will never harm your good
> reputation in your society because no one can trace the Account.Note;
> The total fund is Ten million Five hundred united state dollars, and
> after the fund is transferred into your account 40% will be for you in
> respect of all your assistance for the transfer of the fund into your
> account and provision of the bank account where the bank will remit

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam