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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: "Engr Jones" <engrjones74@netscape.net> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 07:18:56 +0100
Subject: THIS MIGHT INTEREST YOU

Engr.Jones Fred
45 Marina St.,
Email-engrjones@katamail.com
V/I,Lagos-Nigeria.
Dear Sir,

REQUEST FOR AN URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

I am Chief Accountant with the National Oil Nigeria PLC
(N/Oil) and
member of 5 MAN Contract Executive Review Panel
(comprising 2 Snr.Staff of
CBN and 3 Snr,Staff Of (N/Oil) set up by present Civilian
Regime of
President Obasanjo.

So far, we have come across a surplus of the sum of
US$27M.(Twenty-seven Million Dollars)which was as a result
of deliberate over-invoicing of
certain contracts awarded by Contract Award Committee of
the
cooperation.

The last installments due have been paid to the various
Contractors,
while the said surplus still floats in our Apex Bank
waiting Off-shore
remittance which we want to carry out. As Civil servants
we cannot
operate foreign account, therefore seek your assistance in
providing enabling
Bank Account where the Fund would be lodged. 25% of the
total Sum is
for you. 5% for expenses during transaction, if any. 70%
for me and my
colleagues. Please notify me of your acceptance to carry
out this
transaction through the
above E-mail address.I shall in turn inform you of the
modalities for a
formal application to secure the necessary approvals for
the immediate
release of this fund into your account.
I decided to contact you base on the fact that I have no
foreign friend
to assist me in executing the transaction. If you accept
to carry out
this transaction with me, please note that my colleague
and I will be in
your Country to receive the fund togather
with you, the moment we secure all the necessary
approvals.

This transaction will only take (14)fourteen working days.

Best Regards,
Engr.Jones Fred


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