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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: "TRUEFLOW.ORG" <megawad2@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 03:42:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL OFFSHORE



DEAR FRIEND,

APPARENTLY, YOU MAY BE JUDGING THIS MAIL AS ONE OF THOSE SCAM MAILS THAT INUNDATE YOUR BULK MAILS, AND AS SUCH MAY NOT WANT TO ACCORD IT ITS DESERVED ATTENTION. PLEASE IT IS NOT, AT ALL.

I AM THE REGIONAL SUPERVISOR WITH THE ABOVE BANK. I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE BANKING ETHICS, WORLDWIDE, HENCE MY PROFESSIONALISM IN PROPOSING THIS DEAL TO YOU.

THERE IS A FLOATING SUM OF MONEY, USD2.9M, IN OUR DOMICILIARY ACCONT RECORDS BELONGING TO ENGR ARSENY SINDJIRLIEV, A BULGARIAN, BUT A BRITISH CITIZEN. ENGR ARSENY UNTIL HIS DEATH IN UMUOKENYE, A REMOTE OIL PRODUCING AREA OF THE NIGER DELTA, VIA A BOAT MISHAP, MAINTAINED ACCOUNT NO 0031 5897642 002, WHEREIN THE ABOVE SUM HAS BEEN FLOATING SINCE THE YEAR 2004.

ALL ATTEMPTS BY MY DEPT TO LOCATE ENGR ARSENY'S FAMILY AND RELATIVES HAVE BEEN ABORTIVE. THE BRITISH EMBASSY HAVE NOT REPLIED A LETTER OF ENQUIRY SENT TO THEM SINCE OCTOBER 24TH OF 2004, RE-SENT AS A REMINDER AGAIN ON JUNE 12 OF THIS YEAR.

AS A REGIONAL SUPERVISOR WITH OVER 19 YEARS EXPERIENCE SPANNING THE BANKING AND INSURANCE INDUSTRIES IN NIGERIA, I KNOW THAT IF BY THE END OF THIS BANKING YEAR ENDING July 22ND, NOBODY LEGALLY LAYS CLAIM TO THIS ACCOUNT AS A NEXT OF KIN, THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT THE HQ, MAY DECIDE TO CONNIVE WITH THE TOP ECHELON OF THE N.D.I.C (NIGERIAN DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION) TO DECLARE THIS ACCOUNT AS 'BOGUS', AND BRANDISH THE FUNDS AS 'TERRORIST OR DRUG-DERIVED FUNDS'.

I HAVE BEEN MANDATED TO CARRY OUT A ROUTINE CHECK ON ALL SUCH ACCOUNTS PRIOR TO OUR ANNUAL A.G.M. THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR AND MYSELF ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE PRIVY TO THIS RECORD. WE HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED TO USE YOUR COOPERATION TO PROCESS THIS CLAIM AS A NEXT OF KIN TO LATE ENGR ARSENY.

UPON YOUR REPLY, WE SHALL GIVE YOU THE NECESSARY PROCEDURE FOR HARMONISING YOUR PERSONAL RECORDS AS THE NEXT OF KIN. WE ARE OFFERING YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM, WHILE 80% REPRESENTS OUR SHARE.

PLEASE KINDLY REVERT TO ME BY EMAIL IF YOU ARE READY TO COOPERATE WITH US.

HIGH REGARDS,

MR. AKIN GEORGE
REGIONAL SUPERVISOR,
UNION BANK PLC,
PORT HARCOURT

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