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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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • mrabdullahzaahid@gawab.com

Fraud email example:

From: MR ABDULLAH ZAAHID <abdullah@zaahid.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 00:47:17 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: THE MANAGER FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT [TOP SECRET].


FROM MR. ABDULLAH ZAAHID,
THE MANAGER FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT,
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK(ADB)
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

Dear Partner,

(TOP SECRET)

I am MR ABDULLAH ZAAHID , the manager in charge of auditing and
accounting
section of Africa Development Bank.AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK(ADB)
FCT ABUJA, NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA ,with due respect and regard. I have
decided
to
contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to
both
of us at the end of the transaction .

During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came
across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person
Mr.Andreas Schranner who who died with his wife and their only daughter
on
July
2000 in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his account with
this
Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his
family or
relation before our discovery to this development.

The said amount was U.S $10.150M ((Ten million one hundred and
fiftythousand US dolloars)). As it may interest you to know, I got your
impressive
information through internation search in FCT ABUJA,NIGERIA.

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the
bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and
transfer
this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives
and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate
your
interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to
this great business opportunity.

In fact I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in
this country as a civil servant(A Banker),we are not allowed to operate
a
foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side
during the
time of transfer because I work in this bank. This is the actual reason
why
it
will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the
next of
kin with affidavit of trust of oath to the Bank and also present a
foreign
account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his
request as it may be after due verification and clarification by the
correspondent branch of the bank where the whole money will be remitted
from to your own designation bank account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free.
On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40%
of
the total sum as gratification, while 60% will be for me. Please, you
have
been adviced to keep "top secret" as I am still in service and intend
to
retire from service after we conclude this deal with you.

I will be monitoraing the whole situation here in this bank until you
confirm the money in your account and ask me to come down to your
country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages
previously
indicated and further investment, either in your country or any country
you
advice us to invest in. All other necessary information will be sent to
you when I hear from you.
Trusting to hear from you.Kindly reply me via my personal email
address:
mrabdullahzaahid@gawab.com

You can visit the site below to know much about Mr.Andreas Schranner
who who
died with his wife and their only daughter on July
2000 in a plane crash.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm


Yours faithfully,
MR. ABDULLAH ZAAHID,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam