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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Phillip Okocha" <philkol@bmg.go.id>
Reply-To: <philokol@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:07:43 -0800
Subject: LETTER

>From the Desk of:
Mr. Phillip Okocha
Lagos Nigeria.

My name is Mr. Phillip Okocha. I work with a bank in Nigeria as a Group Head (Treasury Department). I stumbled on this domiciliary account as depository for an investment program that has remained dormant for six months now with $25m (Twenty five Million United States Dollars) Hence, I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

On personal investigation, I discovered that the account holder died in auto crash accident it was discovered that she was a widow and she only is in control of the funds and it was invested out of her corporate estate. Her family records are not stated in our bank records and in her investment program contracts.

It may interest you to know that I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved to a local Bank account here, but can only be approved to a foreigner with an account since the money is in US Dollars. I have decided as a matter of urgency upon this discovery now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to the fund as No one has ever come forward to claim this fund. It may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate an ORDER OF MADAMUS to locate any of deceased beneficiary. In accordance to Nigerian Law, fund deposited for a long period of time without claim will be reverted to the Nigerian Government treasury if nobody applies to claim this fund after a long period of time.

I will like you to provide immediately your Full names, Contact Address, Date of Birth, Occupation, and Tel & Fax Numbers. These requirements will enable the Attorney file letter of claim to the appropriate departments in the Bank for necessary approvals in your favour before the transfer can be made.

At the successful conclusion of this business, your goodself shall be entitled to have 40% of the total money while I will have 50% and 10% for communications and other expenses. I am ready to invest a reasonable percentage of mine into any viable business you suggest as a joint partner.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, I expect that you will not take undue advantage of the trust I have reposed on you. I await your urgent mail.

Best Regards,

Mr. Phillip Okocha

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam