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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "EDWARD YAU" <edwardyau62@altfyrieitt.fo>
Reply-To: bank_edwardyau62@myway.com
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:54:58 +0100
Subject: LETTER OF INTENT

LETTER OF INTENT


UNION BANK PLC,
STALLION HOUSE BRANCH
MARINA, LAGOS,
NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,

Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and may offend your personality for contacting you without your prior consent and writing through this channel.I got your contact from the
proffesional database found in the internet when i was searching for a reliable foreigner who will assist me invest this fund.

I am Mr.Edward Y.Egobia of Union Bank Nig.Plc. This mail is written to solicit your assistance to be presented as next of kin to our Late customer.Mr Neal Walker. He made a fixed Deposit valued at USD21.5M (Twenty One Million,Five Hundred United States Dollars Only) with Union Bank Plc here in Nigeria. Unfortunately he lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 31,1999 (View: 'http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) and. He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin excepting some vital documents related to the Deposit which I have in his deposit file in the bank.

The Governing Body of the bank has contacted me on this matter and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to lay claim to the Fund. Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented as the next of Kin so that the Bank will not confiscate this fund.

For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free to make immediate contact with me through my mailbox for further information related to this matter.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while we expect your prompt response.
Lastly, this Transaction is Subject for Verification.

Yours faithfully,

Mr.Edward Y.Egobia

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam