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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Edwin Chisom <edwin1971_som@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: edwinchisotech7@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:36:59 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Urgent Attention//


>FROM DR.EDWIN D.CHISOM.
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
ZENITH FINANCE AND SECURITY BANK PLC.
LOME - TOGO.WEST AFRICA.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Dr.Edwin D. Chisom, the Director in charge of auditing and accounting section of FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT. ZENITH FINANCE & SECURITY BANK PLC. LOME-TOGO in west Africa with due respect and regards. 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 customer of this bank ( Robert W. Thompson ) who died in ghastly motor accident, with his wife and their only Son on 7th of June 2002 along Bargidar highway road.He was an American oil consultant/contractor with the Togolaise Shell Petroleum Corporation.


Since the demise of Mr. Robert W. Thompson , I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of USD$27m (Twenty Seveen Million United States Dollars). This money has been with our bank here for a very long time.

On this note I decided to seek for a foreigner whose name shall be used as the Next Of Kin, as no one has come up to put claim as the next of kin to the deceased and claim this funds, and the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than Five years, because after Five years the money will be forfeited to the banks treasury account as unclaimed deposit.

In view of this, I got your contact from the internet after I've made up my mind to look for a next of kin to the late Mr. Robert W. Thompson to this Bank so that I will use my authority here and get all the required transfer approval and transfer this fund Mr. Robert W. Thompson left behind into the account that you will provide.

The request of a foreigner as a next of kin in this business is because of the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Togolaise here cannot stand as the next of kin to a foreigner. Thereafter,I will visit your country for sharing according to percentages stated above as I am almost due for retirement. For the immediate transfer of this fund into your account, you have to apply first to the bank as the next of kin to the deceased (Mr. Robert W. Thompson ) stating the account detail where you would like the money to be re-transfered into.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitiled to 40% of the total sum as gratification, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer both local and international,like telephone bills,e-mail bills including the documents fees,while 50% 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 I conclude this deal with you.I will be monitoring 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 me to invest in.

All other necessary information will be sent to you when I hear from you.I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your wish in this deal.

Yours faithfully,

Dr.Edwin D. Chisom


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam