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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "destiny_aka@sify.com" <destiny_aka100@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: destiny_aka@sify.com
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 09:07:39 -0700
Subject: AM AWAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON


FROM THE DESK OF DESTINY AKA.
DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES (DPR).
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
EMAIL:destiny_aka@sify.com <EMAIL%3Adestiny_aka@sify.com>
ATTN
I AM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES (DPR) HERE
IN LAGOS.MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASSIGNED ME TO SEEK F0R ASSISTANCE OF RELIABLE
FOREIGN COMPANY OR AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH WHOM WE CAN TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$
21.5, 000, 000. 00 (TWENTY ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) WHICH
AROSE FROM THE DELIBERATE OVER - INVOICE OF SOME CONTRACT AWARDED BY THE
CORPORATION IN THE TWILIGHT DAYS OF THE LAST MILITARY REGIME. HOWEVER, THE
CURRENT FAVORABLE POLITICAL/ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY SINCE THE HAND
OVER FROM MILITARY TO DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT NOW PRESENTED AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE COUNTRY. A FRIEND
WHO WAS FORMERLY RESIDING IN YOUR COUNTRY MADE YOUR ADDRESS AVAILABLE TO ME.
HE ASSURED ME OF YOUR COMPANY S VIABILITY AND CAPABILITY IN BUSINESS
TRANSACTION THOUGH HE DID NOT KNOW MY REAL INTENTIONS.THIS ASSURANCE GAVE ME
COURAGE TO LINK YOU UP FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRANSACTION, AND I HOPE IT WILL
BE OF MUTUAL BENEFIT TO ALL OF US.

OUR CONTACTS IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
HAVE GIVEN US A GO AHEAD ORDER FOR REMITTANCE, SO 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 HAVE AGREED THAT AFTER THE
TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. YOU SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 30% THE
OFFICIALS, MY COLLEAGUES AND I SHALL TAKE 60% WHILE 10% SHALL BE MAPPED OUT
TO COVER FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED IN THE
COURSE OF TRANSACTION.

REQUIREMENT NEEDED IS THIS

1.YOUR BANK NAME AND ADDRESS
2.YOUR COMPANY'S NAME ADDRESS
3YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER/SWIFT CODE
4.YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBER AND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE

THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS NOT PARTICULARLY RELEVANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF
THIS TRANSACTION. ALL WE REQUIRED IS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CO- OPERATE AND
ASSURANCE THAT OUR OWN SHARE WILL BE GIVEN TO US WHEN THIS MONEY IS
TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO
ENSURE A NO RISK SITUATION ON THE SIDES OF BOTH PARTIES AND IT IS BELIEVED
THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL LAST FOR 10 WORKING DAYS, BARRING ANY DELAY.

PLEASE IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS,
I WILL OBLIGE YOU WITH FURTHER INFORMATION.

BEST REGARDS,
MR.DESTINY AKA
NB: DO NOT FAIL TO INCLUDE YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER WHILE
REPLYING THIS LETTER FOR EASY COMMUNICATIONS

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