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:
- "top of the day to you" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",000,000" (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 trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- youssoufoudraog@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- politics. it is important that you email me back at youssoufoudraog@yahoo.com, youssouf_o@hotmail.com kindly accept to my proposal to (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: =?ISO-8859-1?q?=20=22Youssouf=20Ou=E9draog=22=3CINFO=40yahoo=2Ecom=2E?=
=?ISO-8859-1?q?=3E?=
Reply-To: <youssouf_o@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:13:40 +0530
Subject: Top of the day to you! SYGIGRNGXD

Top of the day to you!

How are you and your family? Please do not be surprised that I have just decided to contact you as I believe you are aware of the death of the late Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

He was a good and personal friend of mine and my country, Burkina Faso, was in strong ally with his Government Administration before the National Transitional Council took over the government of Libya.

For you to know my personality and background, I am politician and a one time Prime Minister for very short term, a one time Ambassador to the Netherlands, but I am now a Special Adviser on Africa Development Bank (ADB). Please click the below links on facebook and wikipedia:

I hereby seek your consent to make you the beneficiary of the fund and I hope you will agree to a sharing percentage of 80% to 20%? If not, please let’s negotiate.

Honestly, there is no risk involved, because if there is any risk, I would not do it, because of my position in my country’s politics. It is important that you email me back at youssoufoudraog@yahoo.com, youssouf_o@hotmail.com

Kindly accept to my proposal to you
With love and best regards,

Youssouf Ouédraog

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youssouf-Ou%C3%A9draogo/104086436293847

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssouf_Ou%C3%A9draogo

Away from my introductions, my main reason for contacting you is that I want you to be my partner to claim an Investment Fund, which is under my care when I was serving as an Ambassador of my country to the Netherlands.

This fund ($11,000,000) was entrusted to my care by the Late Col. Gaddafi in 2008 during his visit to my country. I single-handedly oversaw the entire operation for the fund’s movement from this country to a Security Vault in the Netherlands. I am the only caretaker of the deposit; as the fund was registered as an Investment Fund and only me can arrange for its release to any nominated beneficiary I present.

PTMNBMPTXVPCXRTBEGJPOPJQOXDSMMXEYSOFCH

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam