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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.John Pradman" <pradman82@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jhnpradman@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 01:23:09 +0000
Subject: OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF CREDIT CONTROL

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF CREDIT CONTROL
INTERNATIONAL BANK OF TRADE PLC,
Plot 1-2, Sanusi Fafunwa Street,
Wuse phase ll,Abuja- Nigeria



Dear Sir/Madame,

RE; REQUEST FOR YOU TO STAND AS A NEXT OF KIN AND
REPATRIATE 12MILLION USD TO YOUR PRIVATE/COMPANY
ACCOUNT

I was mandated by the Managing Director of
INTERNATIONAL BANK OF TRADE PLC to ascertain your
interest and capability to Co-operate with us in
actualizing this highly rewarding project on
repatriation of funds to your country.

Are you willing to be presented as the bonafide next
of kin to Mr.Floyd Thomason, a crude oil merchant from
Australia. Until his untimely death by the Tsunami
Disaster in Indonesia, Mr.Floyd operated a fixed
Deposit account of Twelve Million United States
Dollars(US$12,000,000.00) with INTERNATIONAL BANK OF
TRADE PLC.

Sequel to his death, the Bank made concerted effort to
contact the immediate family in Australia in order to
re-claim and transfer the ownership of the fund.
Unfortunately, the Bank discovered recently that the
immediate families of the depositor Mr. Floyd were
also drastically affected by the same Tsunami while on
holidays. Apparently, the fund is now in full custody
of the Bank. After a very serious survey, I and the
CEO of the Bank decided to repatriate this fund to a
trustworthy and reliable overseas bank account for
high yield investment portfolios.

The modality of disbursing the fund will be discussed
fully with the Bank-Account owner/provider, which we
are offering you. All the documents establishing the
deposit of the fund and empowering you to be Next of
Kin/Beneficiary of the fund will be perfectly secured
in your name if interested in helping secure the fund.
Transfer of this fund can be swiftly and successfully
implemented within 14 bank working days if you provide
the necessary overseas infrastructure
required to realize the objective.

Please protect my position in my bank by keeping
everything secret and confidential until we transfer
this funds to your distination.Be kind enough to
confirm the receipt of this message for more
clarification.

Awaiting your reply.
Sincerely,
Mr. John Pradman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam