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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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Edike Festus" <mrokonji_cbn@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrfestusedike2008@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 13:58:11 +0100
Subject: MY INQUIRY


Attn: Dear Sir/Madam,

Our letter to stand as the manager of the liquidated Company was submitted
to you some time ago (December and First Week of January 2008 respectively).
Since we haven't heard from you, we wanted to be sure that it was brought to
your attention.We are resending a copy of our original message for your
review. I will be looking forward to your reply and hope that we will have
the opportunity to do business with you in the near future.This letter is
written to you based on contact information I came across on web while
searching for investment options overseas.

This letter might surprise you because we have met neither in person nor by
correspondence.But I have that passion that one day that you get to know
Somebody either in physical or through correspondence.We searched out your
contact today in the internet and We decided to write this letter to you.

My name is Festus Edike, I work as a manager in an insurance company here
named Standard Trust Insurance Plc.Last month, I discovered an unclaimed
policy for the sum of Six Million United States Dollars {US$6,000, 000.00}
to be paid out as SURRENDER VALUE for the LIFE ASSURANCE POLICY of one
liquidated oil servicing company by name (CEDRY INCORPORATED) that went
bankrupt nine years ago and does not exist anymore.

For us to claim this money, we need a foreigner who will stand as the
manager of the liquidated company to file a claim on this policy using
details and information I will supply.I have made efforts to get any foreign
member of the liquidated company without success.I finally found a lawyer,
who was the lawyer of the liquidated company.I revealed the unclaimed policy
to him and he has accepted to work with me to get the Surrender value paid
to the account of any foreigner I will provide to stand as the manager of
the liquidated company.He told me that the manager then was very sick during
their company's liquidation and later died and for that reason no one raised
the issue of their Surrender value with our insurance company. If you accept
to stand as the manager of the liquidated Company to claim this surrender
value of($6.M) six million dollars, I am willing to offer you 30% of the
total sum while i will invest the 70% under your custody in your country
(i.e between you and myself ).Once you file the claim and cooperation with
the accredited lawyer who process the modalities, we will do the rest for
you in the inside and get the payment released in your name,but,your
commitment to assist will be highly needed as beneficiary, If you are
interested and capable, please get back to me through email with the
following required informations.
NAME:___________________________________________________
ADDRESS:________________________________________________
PHONE NUMBER:___________________________________________
AGE:____________________________________________________
FORM OF OCCUPATION:__________________________________________

I will send my identifications to you once you indicate your interest to
work with me. There is no risk involved because this fund is not drug deal
nor fraud making, besides the company has been liquidated and dissolved, And
has left Africa for about nine years now. I will come over to your country
for my own share once this transaction is concluded.I am optimistic that we
will conclude this transaction within two weeks.Thanks in advance for your
anticipated co-operation.Nevertheless, if you are for any reason not
interest, kindly inform Us immediately so that we will look for another
person.

Regards,
Mr.Festus Edike,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam