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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Mr charles s,u" <soludo020@yahoo.com.au> (may be fake)
Reply-To: s_charles999@yahoo.com.au
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 02:45:41 -0800
Subject: proposal

I am Mr.charles solomon udoh.a consulting auditor,NedBank Plc,Johannesburg-South Africa.During the course of my auditing work with my client bank late last year, I discovered an account worth 25,400.000.00 opened in the bank in 1998 by a Foreigner, a German, Late Mr.Andreas Schranner ([http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm).
It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of Late Mr. Andreas Schranner next of kin known to the bank, according to the immigration data available to the bank,that i contacted you to stand in as the next of kin.
I have secretly discussed this matter with a close confident attorney whom I must involve in order to assist us produce legal back-up documents which would substantiate claims/position of next of kin and also enable us have a smooth and successful transfer of the fund to any foreign bank account which you are going to nominate.All validating and authenticating documents to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out. We have secured from the probate registry, an order of Mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries and that makes this business 100% Risk Free.
The sharing ratio after completion of transfer will be thus: 60% for me, 35% for you and 5% for expensies.
Kindly indicate your interest to enable us, with your assistance,move the fund to the banks offshore clearing houses in Europe. Please note that for the purposes of confidentiality, all further correspondence should be through my alternative email: s_charles999@yahoo.com.au
Accept my warm regards as I await your response.
Sincerely,
Mr.charles solomon udoh



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