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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: "Mr Joseph Afolabi" <mrjosephafolabi777@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr Joseph Afolabi" <mrjosephafolabi@katamail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 15:43:45 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend


>From The Desk of Mr. Joseph Afolabi.

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.Joseph Afolabi; I am the chief Accountant of a bank here in Nigeria. I would want to
use this medium after going through your profile to seek for assistance in a business transaction which is
of mutual benefit.

A foreigner late Mr. David Soper who is from United State, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the Federal
Government of Nigeria, until his death in a ship mishap,who banked with us at our Bank and had a
closing balance of US$21.million,which the bank now expect any of his available next of kin to claim.

To this regards, I have been directed by the board of Trustees of the bank to notify the diseased next of
kin, which I have done and found out that he has no next of kin, which means that this funds will be lost
to the government,which we all know will be stolen. In order to avert this development,myself and some of my
trusted colleagues in the bank now seek your indulgence to have you stand as late Mr.David Soper?s
next of kin so that the fund will be subsequently transferred and paid into your foreign account.

On indicating your interest, all documents and proofs to enable you getthis funds will be carefully worked
out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free transaction. You will be allowed to retain 30% of the
total amount after the transaction. If this proposal is okay by you, and you wish to take advantage of the
trust bestowed on you reply this mail through any of the below email addresses to enable me furnish you
with relevant details to this transaction.

I will like you to reply @ my private email
address:mrjosephafolabi@katamail.com

Best regards,

Joseph Afolabi.

Anti-fraud resources: