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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "lagos" (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.
  • markpgreg@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MARK GREG <drclaraadebiyi@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: markpgreg@yahoo.ca
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:11:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: ATTENTION


Mr.Mark I.Greg
SKYE BANK PLC, Lagos Branch
3 Akin Adesola Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mr.Mark I.Greg,General Manager of SKYE BANK PLC, Lagos Branch. Skye Bank is a merger of five banks - former Prudent Bank, EIB International Bank, Bond Bank, Reliance Bank and Cooperative Bank. Through a scheme of arrangement, the operations, assets and liabilities of the five banks have been combined; the bank commenced business under the new identity in January 2006. I got your contact information from World Trade Center (W.T.C.) Regional office in Lagos, Nigeria. Although the details of my intention to World Trade Center (W.T.C.) Regional office in Lagos, Nigeria was not made known to the organization.

Actually, I listed your name amongst four other names and prayed over them and God revealed you to me as honest person and I decided to contact you directly. I have a very urgent and confidential business proposition for you for our overall mutual interest.

In June 6 2003, an American Oil Consultant/Contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Barry Kelly made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve Calendar months, valued at USD$25,000,000.00 (Twenty five million dollars) in my Branch.(former Prudent Bank) Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Barry Kelly died from an automobile accident.

On further investigation I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly did not declare anybody as next of kin in all his official documents, including his bank deposit papers.

This sum of USD$25,000,000.00 is still with the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of every year. Accordingly, if after six years no one applies for the claim of this money as Mr. Barry Kelly’s next of kin; Nigerian government will confiscate the money.

My reason to contact you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin for Mr. Barry Kelly so that the fruit of this old man’s labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. If you can accept this offer, I will like you to provide your
full name and address for the attorney that I will hire to prepare the necessary documents and affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin for Mr. Barry Kelly to enable me transfer this US$25,000,000.00 to your account for share between us.

We shall employ the services of two lawyers who will execute all the legal papers which includes WILL and letter of Probate/Administration in your favour to enable the transfer of this money to your account. The transaction will have a full legal backing and the payment will be made in your favour as next of kin to the late Mr. Barry Kelly.

When the money is transferred to your account I will be entitled to 60% of the total sum while 40% will be yours. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by a reputable lawyer and my position as the Branch Manager guaranteed the success of the payment to you and expeditious execution of the process. If you are
interested, please reply immediately via this private email address: markpgreg@yahoo.ca

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents for your references. Please endeavour to keep this information secret. Be assured that this transaction will be a profitable one for both of us as I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

God bless you.
Mark Greg
SKYE BANK PLC,
Lagos, Nigeria


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam