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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Phillip Okocha" <phillok@hqis.com>
Reply-To: <philokol@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:50:46 -0500
Subject: Your immediate reply is needed

>From the Desk of:
Mr. Phillip Okocha

I am contacting you on business transfer of a huge sum of money from a foreign customer deceased account. My name is Mr. Phillip Okocha. I work with a bank in Nigeria as a Group Head (Treasury Department). I stumbled on this domiciliary account as depository for an investment program that has remained dormant for six months now with $25m (Twenty five Million United States Dollars) Hence, I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

On personal investigation, I discovered that the account holder died in auto crash accident it was discovered that she was a widow and she only is in control of the funds and it was invested out of her corporate estate. Her family records are not stated in our bank records and in her investment program contracts.

It may interest you to know that I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved to a local Bank account here, but can only be approved to a foreigner with an account since the money is in US Dollars. I have decided as a matter of urgency upon this discovery now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to the fund as No one has ever come forward to claim this fund. It may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate an ORDER OF MADAMUS to locate any of deceased beneficiary. In accordance to Nigerian Law, fund deposited for a long period of time without claim will be reverted to the Nigerian Government treasury if nobody applies to claim this fund after a long period of time.

I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address, Date of Birth, Occupation, Tel & Fax Numbers so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of two Attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. The Bank cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.

At the successful conclusion of this business, your goodself shall be entitled to have 40% that is, USD$10m of the total money while I will have 55% that is USD$13.750m and 5% that is USD$1.250m for communications and other expenses. I am ready to invest a reasonable percentage of mine into any viable business you suggest as a joint partner.

Your response is highly imperative as this is a TWO-man business deal transaction as I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. I need your assistance and co-operation to this reality as I have done my Homework and fine tune the best way to create you as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position guarantees the successful execution of this transaction with you as the beneficiary to this fund. Your percentage will also be a source of upliftment. You have absolutely nothing to LOSE in assisting me instead, you have so much to GAIN. Be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us.

I will appreciate your early reply for commencement of business. Contact me for acknowledgement by E-mail and whereby you are not interested, please indicate in your reply so that I can seek for the assistance of someone else.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, I expect that you will not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you. I await your urgent mail.

Thanks with great regards.

Mr. Phillip Okocha

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam