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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: "LEGAL EXECUTIVE" <info@NETFINITYSERVICES.COM>
Reply-To: mr.jbrown094@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 19:13:56 +0100
Subject: Re:Private message

Good day,


First I apologies if my email has evaded your privacy, kindly permit me as I have no other option than to use this quick ,although insecure medium to present my proposition for your kind consideration.

I represent the interest of my deceased clients who happen to be a national of your country. Until his untimely death, he worked as a private contractor with an Oil servicing company. Prior to his demise, he confided in me with documents on his investment with a bank in Nigeria where he worked prior to his untimely death. He made a fixed deposit with the bank (datails withheld) for security reasons and intsructed me to channel proceeds from the investment towards fighting HIV and AIDS in Africa as part of his philantrophic gestures. I contacted you because you share the same last name with the deceased hence I solicit for your partnership tp retrieve his entitlement with the financial institution.


Recently, I received a memo from the corresponding bank requesting for the beneficiary to receive the funds on his behalf. After several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family, I had to make this contact with you, seeking your partnership in retrieving his entitlement before the bank get it confiscated or declare the account unserviceable. The bank where the deposit was made has already sent a memo to my office, a full notice to provide a beneficiary to enable them process the funds.

I therefore seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, In this case the proceeds of the account can be paid to you. Please be informed that the bank will only approve of whomever I present before them with document. As soon as I receive your email with full support in this course, I shall send you more information. Please if you have any question, do not hesitate to contact me on this email.


Yours faithfully,


Barrister J. Brown
Principal Attorney

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