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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: Powell Andrew <powellandrew220@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2022 04:35:05 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend

we do not know each other, but you are the only person I sent this
letter with hope to get a positive and sincere response, in order to
go into a deal that would bring life fortune to both of us.

I am Barr. POWELL ANDREW, a solicitor. I was the personal attorney to
late Engr. Greg a national of your country who was a Contractor and
Chief Executive officer of {Asian development Oil Company} For 25
years. He has spent most of his life in (Australia & Malaysia). In
January 2020, Engr. Greg fell sick and died due to the Corona-virus
pandemic.

Since then I have made several inquiries in the Embassy to locate any
of my client's extended relatives but all efforts were unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you
and solicit your assistance as a foreigner to execute the claim of his
Estate Which includes cash deposits.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the assets and Capital
valued at US$ 36.5 million left behind by my client before they get
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the STD bank where these huge
deposits were lodged. The said bank has issued me a notice to provide
the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next month.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives. I seek the
consent to present you as the Next of kin to the deceased, so that the
proceeds of this account can be paid to you. The request of a
foreigner as the next of kin in this transaction is occasioned by the
fact that my client was a foreigner and the money cannot be paid into
a local bank here, so it will be better for you to stand as the next
of kin to my client. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response,
we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I
have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you
up for claim.

All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us to see
this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under
a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law.

Please reply via e-mail to indicate your interest.

Best Regards,

Barr. POWELL ANDREW
powellandrew220@gmail.com

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