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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: "Williams Duru" <williams_duru01@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 11:57:16 +0000
Subject: Business

Attn:
 
Sir/Madam
 
How are you today even as I hope that this mail finds you in good health? I am quite sure that this short memo/mail would certainly surprise/embarrass you since we have not had any previous correspondence with each other before. However, I got your contact through the world wide web (internet) when I was on a desperate search for someone who could handle a transaction for our mutual benefit.
 
My name is  Mr. Williams Duru and my contact e-mail address is as stated thus;  (williams_duru02
@yahoo.com). I am an accountant with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.  One of our contractors (Engr. John Celvin) lost his life shortly after servicing a project for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the Warri and Port Harcourt Refinery. The contractor left the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria for his residential home to produce certain documents required of him for the clearing of his funds, which was due for payment. Unfortunately he could not come back for the clearance, having met his sudden death on that trip. Engr. John Celvin and his entire family (his wife and three kids) lost their life in the fire that gulped their residential home during an inter-tribal communal clash between two rebels/militants group in Port Harcourt (Rivers-State). The rebels/militants who stormed the neighborhoods by midnight, left traces of woe, pain, and anguish, by killing of innocent souls through sporadic gunshots, explosion of dynamites and setting many residential homes ablaze. It is quite unfortunate that the contractor and his entire family did not live to enjoy the fruit of their labor, having lost their lives to that deadly catastrophe. The amount in question is US$35,000,000.00 (Thirty-Five Million United States Dollars Only). Presently, this has accrued an interest up to the tone of US$2,000,000.00.
 
Having made several fruitless attempts to locate any of his extended family relatives through their embassy (since his wife and kids who should have been the beneficiary of the funds were not spared in that deadly incident), I have now perfected means of successfully claiming this funds. However, I can only succeed on this if I could present a foreigner whom I must present to the Contract Payment office as the only surviving relation of late Engineer Engr. John Celvin . I have to execute this deal because the government would confiscate this fund if it were not claimed within the next six months. It does not make any business sense allowing this funds to be confiscated or secretly siphoned by Contract Payment officials. It is unreasonable to allow opportunity to slip through me while many people are out there suffering various degrees of untold hardship. I here-by seek your cooperation to have you stand as an extended relative (next-of-kin) to the late contractor so that the fund will be paid to you.
 
As a matter of business, I would want us to claim this money and donate a substantial part of it to Charity, while the rest will be equally shared between the both of us. I know how best to achieve this goal without leaving any traces, and I guarantee that this transaction is 100% risk free because I have the all contract documents needed to back up this claim. This document shall be forwarded to you upon your full acceptance to execute this deal with me. Upon your response I will also show you other proves that confirms the legitimacy of this transaction and these proves will explain my reasons for assuring you that the deal is RISK FREE.  This deal can be concluded within 5 banking days and it is an opportunity of a life’s time, which no one can afford to loose.
 
Thanks as I wait in anticipation for your positive response through my above email. But please accept my sincere apology if this proposal should offend you as a result of your moral or religious status. I simply believe that this fund should be retrieved and used in helping out many in the third world countries who are languishing in poverty and hunger.
 
I expect your urgent response indicating your full interest in this great business to our both mutual trust.
 
Your telephone and fax number will be needed for our easy communication.
 
Best Regards,
 
MR. Williams Duru
--

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