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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "muktar muktar" <muktarumar22@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: muktarumar64@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 12:03:01 +0000
Subject: PLEASE RESPOND URGENTLY

Dr Muktar Umar
Head,Operations Manager,
International Trust Bank Plc.
ICON House,6th Floor Idejo Street,
Victoria Island,
Lagos Nigeria.

Confidential Letter
First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue
of its nature as being utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know
that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the
transaction. For the purpose of introduction,I am Dr Muktar Umar
Head,Operations Manager, International Trust Bank Plc, in charge of
personal and corporate accounts above US$5,000,000.00(five million US
Dollars only).I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and
reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction which involves
the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum
confidence.

THE PROPOSITION:

A foreigner, late Mr Grahams Peterson, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the
Federal Govenment of Nigeria, until his death three years ago in a ghastly
auto crash, banked with us here at International Trust Bank PLC.,Lagos. and
had a closing balance of USD$21.5M (Twenty-One Million, Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars only) which the bank now questionably
expects to be claimed by any of his available foreign next of kin or
alternatively be donated to a discredited trust fund for arms and ammunition
at a military war college here in Nigeria.

Fervent valuable efforts are being made by the Bank to get in touch with any
of the Peterson family or relatives but all have proved to no avail. It is
because of the perceived possibility of not going to be able to locate any
of late Mr Grahams Peterson's next of kin (he had no wife and children)
that the management under the influence of our Chairman, Board of Directors,
Retired Major General Kalu Uke Kalu, that an arrangement for the fund to be
declared "UNCLAIMABLE" and then be subsequently donated to the Trust Fund
for Arms and Ammunition which will further enhance the course of war in
Africa and the world in general.In order to avert this negative development,
myself and some of my trusted colleagues in the bank now seek for your
permission to have you stand as late Mr Grahams Peterson's next of kin so
that the fund, USD$21.5M would
be subsequently transferred and paid into your bank account as the
beneficiary next of kin.

All documents and proves to enable you get this fund have been carefully
worked out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free involvement. Your share
would be 30% of the total amount,5% has been set aside for expenses while
the rest would be for myself and my colleagues for investment purposes in
your company or any country of your choice where the returns on investment
will be optimal.If this proposal is acceptable to you and you do wish to
take advantage of the trust we hope to bestow on you and your company, then
kindly get to me immediately via my e-mail furnishing me with:

1.The Names you want to use for this transaction.
2.Your contact address
3.Your most confidential telephone number
4.Fax number
5.Exclusive e-mail so that I can forward to you the relevant details of this
transaction.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.

Regards,

Dr Muktar Umar,

International Trust Bank Plc



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam