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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Laurie McIlwee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lauriemmcilwee@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2016 12:30:12 +0100
Subject: Late Mr. Albert and wife Mrs Marie Rizkof Melbourne

Dear Sir,

I am Laurie McIlwee a Solicitor, I am the Personal Attorney to Albert Rizk, of Melbourne, An engineer who ran car maker BMW museum and also an oil consultant died along with his entire family in this resent Malaysia ghastly air crash in Indian Ocean that claim the lives of all the 239 passengers.
Despite an extensive international search in the southern Indian Ocean, no trace of the aircraft has been found.
Officials confirmed that the recovery operation was ongoing but that the 239 people on board are now presumed dead.

You may click this link below for Verification. (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26503141)

Since his wife was his next of kin and she was in the missing plan also, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of no avail,
hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money that belongs to my client before it declared unserviceable by the bank management where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued Forty Nine million Three hundred and Fifty one Thousand Eight Seven cent ($49,350,000.87) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 21 official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over many months now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this
can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money 70% to me and 25% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require, I have the certificate of deposit that can be used to back up any claim we may
make. All I require is your moral support.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my email to enable us discuss further.

This is to affect the swift transfer of this fund into your account in less than Three (3) Working days I WILL OBTAIN AFFIDAVIT FROM COURT WHEN YOU RESPONSE TO ME.

I look forward to hear from you.

Best regards,
Barrister Laurie McIlwee

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