419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Alex Mann" <mralexmann@gumassi.com>
Reply-To: mr.alexmann@w.cn
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 11:34:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?UGxlYXNlIHlvdXIgaGVscCBpcyBpbXBvcnRhbnQgRGVhciBGUk9NIFRIRSBE?=
=?utf-8?B?RVNLIE9GIE1SLkFMRVggTUFOTi7igI8=?=

FROM THE DESK OF MR.ALEX MANN.
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
LOME TOGO.
TEL:TEL:00228-9124789.
EMAIL:mr.alexmann@w.cn

Dear,

I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will. I am 50, and work with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the West Coast). Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 8 years which belong to a American national who is now late Mr. Raymond Beck and Mrs. Dorene Beck how died on Egypt Air Flight 990. View the web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

When I discovered that there had been neither deposits nor withdrawals from this account for this long period, I decided to carry out a system investigation and discovered that none of the family member nor relations of the late person is aware of this account.

This is the story in a nutshell.
Now I want an account overseas where the bank will transfer these funds.Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all related documents for this account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months I have worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation. The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this account stands at-(US$ 9.5 million dollars).

Now our questions are: -
1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission if you can sponsor this transfer?.
Consider this and get back as soon as possible.

Finally, it is my humble prayer that the information as contained herein is accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. Let get this fund transfer this week because the year is about to end.

I Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project. Call me at this direct line: 00228-9124789,after sending a mail for confirmation.

Respectfully yours,
Mr.Alex Mann
TEL:00228-9124789
EMAIL:mr.alexmann@w.cn

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam