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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: "James williams" <jameswilliams200116@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 20:36:10 -0600
Subject: HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

Dear Friend,

I am James Williams , Bank Manager of Equity Bank Nigeria. PLC, Lagos Branch. I got your contact from the Internet when I was searching for whom I will entrust this business into his/her care. Actually, I know it will come to you as a surprise because we have not met either physically or through correspondence.

I have a very urgent and confidential business proposition for you for our overall mutual interest. On November 6 2003, an American Oil Consultant/Contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,Mr. Henry Gardner made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve Calendar months, valued at USD$25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Dollars) in my Branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to
his forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Henry Gardner died from an automobile accident. On further investigation I found out that he did
not leave a WILL and all attempt to trace his Next Of Kin were fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Henry Gardner did not declare any Next Of Kin in all his official documents, including his bank deposit paper work. This sum of USD$25,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is  being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 3 (Three)
years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigeria Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the Next Of Kin of Mr. Henry Gardner so that the fruit
of this old man labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt Government Officials.

This is simple;

1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put
you in place as the next of kin.

2) We are going to be employing the services of an Attorney who his going to be helping us in procuring the necessary documents, such as the Death Certificate/Probate Letter and the Affidavit of Fund Representation in your favor for the transfer.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution
of this transaction.
If you are interested in my proposal I am going to be compensating you with 20% of the total money transfered into your bank account at the end of the
transaction.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be  us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply: jameswilliams200115@yahoo.com

God bless you.

Mr.James Williams
Equity Bank Nigeria.PLC,
Lagos,Nigeria.

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