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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348026552103 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • yusufadams.0@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Yusuf Adams" <yusufadams3@hosanna.net>
Reply-To: yusufadams_0@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:43:39 -0700
Subject: From The Desk Of :Mr.Yusuf Adams.


From The Desk Of :Mr.Yusuf Adams.
Equitorial Trust Bank Plc
30,Adetokunbo Ademola Street Victoria Island Lagos.
Private Email :yusufadams.0@hotmail.com
Telephone :+234-802-655-2103.


Good Day,

I am Mr.Yusuf Adams. Branch Manager with EQUITORIAL TRUST BANK PLC LAGOS
NIGERIA,I discovered an abandoned sum of $16.311million u.s. dollars) in an
account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late Engineer.Renold ,a
contractor with an Oil Development company in Nigeria (NIGERIA NATIONAL
PETROLUEM CORPORATION)and who here-in after shall be referred to as my
client,on Sunday 2ND February,2003,18:50 GMT my client,and his family were
involved in Ikeja bomb blast infortunately they lost their lives in the
process of the bomb blast.


I cease this medium to make it known to you that since then ,I have made
several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended
Relatives, this is also prove d unsuccessful,hence my contact with you,I
have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the Bank where these huge deposits were lodged,particularly with the
EQUITORIAL TRUST BANK PLC,where the deceased had an account valued at about
(USD$16.311 Million United States Dollars).The bank issued me a notice to
provide the Next Of Kin or have his deposit with them confiscated within the
next Ten official working days.


Since i have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years
now,I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased to
have the account confiscated within the next Ten(10)official working
days.The reason for contacting you is because you are a foreigner and can
act in the capacity of the next of kin to my deceased client,and as such
will enable a change of ownership through the bank,so that the proceeds of
this account valued at (USD$16.311 Million United States Dollars),can be
paid into your account since no one came for it,then you and I will share
the money in this ratio 50% to me,50% to you. For clarity,this transaction
is 100% risk free and you have nothing to worry about as all necessary
machineries will putted in place to make sure this funds is paid to you as
the legitimate beneficiary to it.To commence this transaction, I require you
to immediately indicate you interest by a return e- mail and enclose your
private contact telephone number and fax number full name and address to
enable me file letter of claim to the appropriate departments for necessary
approvals before the transfer can be made.


Note also, this transaction must be kept STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL because of
its nature. For confirmation of this transaction please refer to these
sites:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm


All I req uire is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate that will
protect you and me from any breach of the law.


I look forward to hear from you.Please Call me on this number
+234-1-802-655-2103 immdeately for more information so we can make progress.



Mr.Yusuf Adams.
+234-802-655-2103.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam