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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "malichimack" <malichimack@terra.com.mx>
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:46:53 -0600
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: DR MALICHI MACK.


FEDERAL CONTRACT REVIEW/AUDIT COMMITTEE
HEAD QUARTERS LAGOS-NIGERIA,
FROM THE DESK OF: DR MALICHI MACK.
ATTN: MANAGING DIRECTOR,
TRANSFER OF US$25,500,000.00 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) CONTRACT DEBT.
I AM EXTENDING THIS PROPOSAL TO YOU IN MY CAPACITY AS AN ACCOUNTANT AND CHIEF OF THE REVIEW / AUDIT COMMITTEE SCRUTINISING ALL RECORDS COVERING EXECUTED CONTRACTS AWAREDED BY PAST MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE DISCOVERED A FLOATING AMOUNT OF (US$25.5M) WITHOUT A CLEAR BENEFICIARY, OWING TO A DELIBERATE ACT OF OVER-INVOICING AND ILLEGAL INFLATION OF CONTRACT VALUE BY CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.THIS MONEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR PAYMENT BY NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) AND IT IS SECURED UNDER CONTRACT N0.FGN/NNPC/029961/CB/98.
AS TOP CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE NOT AUTHORISED TO OPERATE FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNTS AND THIS IS WHY WE WANT TO USE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY OUTSIDE NIGERIA. WE HAVE ACCEPTED YOU AS OUR FOREIGN PARTNER AND WILL REGULARISE THE APPROVALS TO REFLECT YOU AS THE TRUE BENEFICIARY UNDER THE CONTRACT.
WE HAVE SET IN MOTION THE MACHINERY FOR THE TAKE-OFF OF THIS TRANSACTION AND FURTHER ACTION WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY WE HEAR FROM YOU. WE AGREED THAT AFTER THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 30%, THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED SHALL TAKE 70%, THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS NOT PARTICULARLY RELEVANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION.
ALL WE REQUEST IS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CO-OPERATE. ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE A NON-RISK SITUATION ON THE SIDE OF BOTH PARTIES.PLEASE NOTE: THAT THIS DEAL CAN ONLY TAKE PLACE ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1 YOU WILL PROVIDE THE NAME OF YOUR BANK.
2 YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBERS/ACCOUNT NAME WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED INTO, THESE BANKING INFORMATIONS WILL ENABLE US SUBMIT APPLICATION OF CLAIMS FOR THE RELEASE OF THIS FUND FROM THE CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS.
3 THE TRANSACTION SHOULD BE TREATED WITH UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECERITY CONSIDERING THE CALIBRE OF PEOPLE INVLOVED.
4 ASSURANCE THAT OUR SHARE WILL BE GIVEN TO US WHEN WE DEMIND FOR OUR OWN SHARE.
5 YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASIER COMMUNICATIONS, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL, PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL FOR MORE INFORMATIONS, THIS TRANSACTION WILL TAKE AT LEAST (7)WORKING DAYS TO CONCLUDE WITH YOUR MAXIMUM CO-OPERATION.
PLEASE TREAT THIS WITH THE STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY IT DESERVES, AS I AWAITS FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
TRULY YOURS,
DR MALICHI MACK.

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