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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: "Harris Kenneth" <hpk_001@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: hpkenneth@hotmail.ro
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 09:53:02 +0000
Subject: This may be a chance for we both

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Kenneth Harris, Deposit Manager with First Atlantic Security and
Finance Services, Lagos State of Nigeria. A foreigner an American, late Bob
Williams who died On January 31 aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which
crashed into the Pacific Ocean not far from Los Angeles, while returning
from his Country from a business trip.

I am contacting you to help assist me in ensuring that the funds lodged by
my client with his Financial and Security Firm is not decleared unclaimed
hence my reason for this contact to you.

This Financial Firm has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or
the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late client,so that the proceeds of this
account can be paid to you,Then we can share the amount on a
mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be
provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral
values,do accept my apology,and ignore this mail.

However if you are willing to assist me in this venture I will establish a
verbal telephone communication with you and bring you into a much better
picture of the situation.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Kenneth Harris
Deposit Manager
First Atlantic Security & Finance Services


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