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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- missrosewilliams2015@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: missrose williams <missrosewilliams220@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <missrosewilliams2015@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 16:03:01 +0100
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU? I have decided to WILL the sum of
$17,250,000.00USD to you to help the poor.

Good day my beloved in Christ,

Though this medium internet has been corrupted and abused by many
impostors, but it still remains the safest and the quickest way of easy
communication and based on that, i will like you to take your time and
read this message.

My name is Miss Rose Williams, I am a dying woman who had decided to
donate what I have to a reliable individual who will act as I will
instruct here. I am 63 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2
years ago. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have
inherited from my late father to you for the good work of God, rather
than allow my uncle to use my father’s hard earned funds ungodly.

I will be undergoing an operation in London, and I pray that I survive
the operation. I have decided to WILL the sum of $17,250,000.00USD
(Seventeen Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars
Only) deposited in a secured bank in West Africa, to you for the good
work of the lord, the orphanage, the needy and to help the motherless.

Presently, I have informed my Doctor, about my decision in WILLING this
fund to a reliable individual, you are to get back to me immediately if
you are interested in carrying out this task, so that I will instruct
you on how to get in contact with my doctor and my account officer.

Lastly, I know I have never meet you, but in other to fulfill this which
borders me most, i prayed and choose you and my mind tells me to
inform you about this, and I hope you act sincerely, please get back to
me immediately via my private email
address(missrosewilliams2015@gmail.com)with the following information.

NOTE: I WILL PREFER UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY IN ALL THESE UNTIL THE MONEY
GETS TO YOU, BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT BAD PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED THEREBY
JEOPARDIZING MY LAST WISHES.

YOUR NAME:

YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS:

YOUR COUNTRY:

YOUR HOME ADDRESS:

YOUR PHONE NO:

OCCUPATION:

AGE:

SEX:

God bless you.

Miss. Rose

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam