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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: DAVID RICHARD <david.richards98@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: davidrichard1@cantv.net
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 19:05:35 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED,


URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED,
 
My name is Mr.David Richard, a Banker and accountant with the BIAOBANK Abidjan. I am the personal accounts manager to Mr. Robert, a National of your country who used to work with an oil servicing company here in Cote d'Ivoire.
 
My client, his wife, and their three children were involved in the Kenya Airways crash in the coast of Abidjan in January 2000 in which all passengers on board died. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but all my effort has not been successful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet to see if I could locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
 
Our deceased client ( Mr. Robert ) has an account valued to ($6 million US Dollars). The management of our bank have issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or the bank will declare the account unserviceable and thereby send the funds to the bank treasury.
 
Since I have not been successful in locating the relatives of the late Mr. Robert, I will seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased client so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($6 million US dollars) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.
 
All i require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. In your reply if you can handle this deal with me, reach me now through this e-mail for more details.

My telephone number 0022560278877 for better discussions.

Anticipating your cooperation.
Sincerely,
David Richard.
 
 

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