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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: "Mr. Dennis Babatunde" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.dennisbabatunde@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:10:52 -0800
Subject: Attention: Officially Needed.

MR. DENNIS BABATUNDE (Msc, MBA, FCA)
Senior Controller, Customers Service.
FIDELITY BANK PLC, RC 103022.
1, Fidelity Bank Close, off kofo Abayomi Street Victoria Island .
Lagos Nigeria ,
E-mail: mr.dennisbabatunde993@gmail.com
Cell: +234-802-263-3835
Date: 10th February 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

On the 5th of January 2009 a gang of Niger Delta militants attacked and bombed oil refineries/ fields located on the Creeks of that region killing four (4) expatriate staff and 10 local staff of the company including Engr. Matthew Hunt a customer with Fidelity Bank plc.Conseqently I was mandated by the Management of my bank as his account service controller to help locate any of his close family relation to Claim the money he deposited with the bank.

Mr.Hunt has in his account with Fidelity Bank plc before his sudden death the sum of $30.6 million USA dollars among other personal effects, including a life assurance policy worth $1.2 million insured with American International Insurance Company's African regional office in Nigeria (AIICO), all efforts to locate any of his immediate family proved abortive since he did not reside in Nigeria with any of his immediate family being a contractual staff with shall petroleum development company (SPDC) except his dog called foster.

Having been unsuccessful in locating any of his relatives this past periods mostly as his 4 ( four) years contact is due to expire very soon , I decided to contact you to assist in Repatriating the money and properties left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared Unserviceable by the bank and the insurance.

I seek your consent and cooperation to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, over the Proceeds of this account valued at ($30.6 million US Dollars) to be paid to you and then you and I can share the money in the ratio of 48% to me and 47% to you, while the balance 5% will be set aside for any contingency expenses in course of this transaction.

An attorney will be contracted to assist us revalidate and notarize all the necessary legal documents that will be used to back up our claims. All I need is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law. I will appreciate some measure of confidentiality until we finish the transaction, because of my position in the bank.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Dennis Babatunde

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