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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "jean mark" <jeanmarki@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 14:45:18 +0000
Subject: SEALED=TRUST

Dear sir,
My name is Mr Jean Mark, and I am the Customer Services department Manager
Ecobank Nigeria plc.I am contacting you to seek your co-operation to
transfer the sum of $25.5Million into a foreign account.The money acrued
through a deposit marked The "PREMIUM RESERVE ACCOUNT 114100307" held and
operated by one Mr.Reijo Saunamaki,a foreign National who lived and worked
in Lagos- nigeria for over 20 years.Mr Reijo Saunamaki had a well known
construction company called the GUNN ENGINERRING LIMITED whic h enjoyed huge
government patronage. Unfortunately,Mr.Saunamaki died in a plane crash in
1999 with his immediate family members,leaving no known next of kin to claim
this deposit.Hence the account has been placed on dormancy by the management
of the bank since 1999.Recently,the Central Bank of nigeria regulating APEX
BANK has passed circular to all commercial banks to the effect that all
overaged individual or company deposits of all foreign Nationals that are in
dormancy be returned to the Federal account with the Central of Nigeria.
This has informed our decision to seek for a foreign National whom as highly
placed officiers of the Ecobank would position as the legal next of kin to
Mr.Saunamaki and effect the claim of this money. We intend to position him
as your "UNCLE"and this is because that will open possibilities for family
ties since you and Mr.Saunamaki are from different Nationalities.If you
consent to this proposal,we intend to reward you with 30% of the value of
the dep osit which is $25.5M while 5% will be expenses we may incure here
and in your country during the course of transfer.I will expect your
response as soon as possible.Please do include your telephone number in your
response to enable me discuss with you for futher clarification.

Thanking you in anticipation for your co-operation
Regards,
Mr Jean Mark

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam