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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: Mark Duru <hr.kuwait@kucgroup.com>
Reply-To: <markduru33322@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2014 23:03:13 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir/ Madam

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
 
 
 
 
I am Mark Duru a strong and good financial consultant both local and internationally, Due to my busy schedule, I asked my Personal Assistant to send this letter to you; while she was on Business trip to Europe. I am contacting you; regarding the estate of a deceased Client Mr Hughes Okkas, an Estonian property magnate who died alongside his immediate family in the year 2004, in a mysterious road accident.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Before his death, he deposited the sum of $10,000, 000, 00.{ten million united states dollars placed under our Bank Management here in Nigeria. The institution being aware of his death have mandated me to present a member  of his family (heir/inheritor) or Next of kin to make claims of his funds with our bank otherwise, it will be forfeited, seized or confiscated by the authorities and reverts to the treasury of the   Ministry as unclaimed. This is because in accordance with the  fiscal and monetary policy , such fortune is automatically bequeathed to the government if there is no heir or Next of kin to the deceased that would surface to claim the fortune within the specified time. However, this law is unjust and inhuman as it often creates an avenue for the top officials of some financial institute to divert such fortunes for their own selfish use. On that ground, I decided to search for a reliable person who will help me put claim to the funds as he did not declare officially
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I know you might not be related but after countless efforts to locate direct relatives to my late client and a Three months final notice from the Bank to present a beneficiary to the fund and failure to meet up with this deadline means the fund will be liquidate to the Bureau as unclaimed fund, that I forbid happening. Against this backdrop, I decided to contacted you to join me put claim on this deposit before it is forfeited to the authorities. My suggestion to you is I would like to present you as the Next of kin and beneficiary to this deposit, since you are both foreign nationals by virtue of my position as a financial consultant, I will now place your name as the Next of kin/Beneficiary to my late client and I will prepare the relevant legal document that will assist to facilitate the release of the funds to you, without any breach of law.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note, I have worked out all modalities to complete the transaction successfully and be rest assured that this transaction is 100% legal and risk free. Once the vault is released to you, we shall share in the ratio of 50% for me and 45% for you; while the remaining 5% will be set aside for any expenses incurred during the cause of securing this deposit. Please if you are interested in getting on with this project, it will be highly appreciated if you get back to me  let ma  explain to you the custom and structures designed towards the possibility of this fair deal.
 
 
 
 
 
Yours Sincerely,
Mark Duru

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