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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: williamjude1@tiscali.ch
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2005 06:59:22 +0100
Subject: I AM WRITTING IN RESPECT OF A FOREIGN CUSTOMER OF MY BANK

DEAR FRIEND,
MY NAME IS WILLIAMS JUDE, PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO
DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.


I AM WRITTING IN RESPECT OF A FOREIGN CUSTOMER OF MY BANK(Ms. JEAN D
ALLEN,OF AMERICA) WHO PERISHED IN THE PLANE CRASH OF 31 OCTOBER
1999[WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990] WITH OTHER PASSENGERS ABOARD AS YOU CAN
COMFIRM IT YOURSELF THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm
http://www.cnn.com/US/9911/01/egyptair.03/

SINCE THE DEMISE OF Ms. JEAN D ALLEN, I ERSONALLY HAVE WATCHED WITH
KEEN INTEREST TO SEE THE NEXT OF KIN BUT ALL HAS PROVED ABORTIVE AS NO
ONE HAS COME TO CLAIM HIS FUNDS OF USD30M,[THIRTY MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS]HAS BEEN WITH OUR BANK HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.ON THIS NOTE I
DECIDED TO SEEK FOR WHOM HIS NAME SHALL BE USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN,AS
NO ONE HAS COME UP TO PUT CLAIM AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS FUNDS AND THE
BANKING ETHICS HERE DOES NOT ALLOW SUCH MONEY TO STAY MORE THAN SIX
YEARS,BECUASE AFTER SIX YEARS THE MONEY WILL BECALLED BACK TO THE BANK TREASURY
AS UNCLAIMED BILL.

IN VIEW OF THIS I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH MY COUNTRY'S FOREIGN TRADE
MISSION AFTER I WAS CONVINCED IN MY MIND THAT YOUR NAME/COMPANY COULD BE
USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS CLAIM.THE REQUEST OF THE FOREIGNER AS A
NEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER
WAS A FOREIGNER AND A NIGERIAN CANNOT STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.

I AGREED THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A FOREIGN PARTNER IN
RESPECT OF PROVIDING AN ACCOUNT WHILE 10% WILL TAKE OF ANY EXPENSIS
THAT MIGHT BE INCURED IN THE PROCEES OF SUCCEEDING THE TRANSFER AND THE
REST WILL BE FOR ME. THEREAFTER I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR
DISBURSEMENT AS I AM ALMOST DUE FOR RETIREMENT.

UPON THE RECEIPT OF YOU, I WILL SEND YOU BY FAX OR E-MAIL A DRAFT
APPLICATION OF CLAIM WHICH YOU WILL SEND TO THE BANK AS THE NEXT OF KIN
AND THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE.

I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS HITCH
FREE AND THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR AS THE WHOLE REQUIRED
ARRANGEMENT AS BEEN PERFECTED FOR THE TRANSFER.

I WILL WANT YOU TO REPLY ME VIA MY PERSONAL BOX:williamjude4@i12.com

REGARDS,
WILLIAMS


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