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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "office_privacy" <office_privacy@terra.com.mx>
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:46:31 -0600
Subject: VERY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL (FROM SAVIMBI JNR)



Dear Sir/Madam.

I got your contact through an email directory and decided to contact you
for assistance. I am Chatwitslash Savimbi, the son of Jonas Savimbi, the
rebel leader in Angola who was shot dead on Monday the 25th of February
2002, by the opposing Angolan Army headed by Brigadier Wala and was
buried at Lucusse, south-east of the capital, Luanda.
Before the death of my father, he deposited the sum of Ten million United
States Dollars (US$10,000,000.00) in a Storage company. My father handed
all the legal documents for the deposit to the family attorney in trust
and for safe keeping for the family.
Also, after the death of my father, my family and I fled to South Africa
where we are currently living, please kindly take a look at this;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1839000/1839252.stm
So, we want you to help us make claims of this fund (US$10 million) from
the Storage Company as my family beneficiary and transfer the money to
your account or any account of your choice for that matter before I and
my family can get Visas to fly down to your country for mutual sharing of
the money.

My family has agreed to give you 20% for your anticipated assistance and
70% would be for us (my family) and the remaining 10%would be set aside
for any expenses that we may incure during the course of this
transaction. My family share of 70% would be invested in your country in
real estate and property acquisition.
We have never met before, but I want to trust you and please do not let
my family down by sitting on this money when it finally gets into your
account.

As a result of the present predicament of my family exiled in South
Africa, you should contact my family attorney resident in London who is
in full control of this transaction that you got a mail from Chatwitslash
Savimbi instructing you to contact him on this subject matter and he will
furnish you with more details and all necessary documentations like
mutual agreement, Certificate of Deposit and airway bill.
Please, treat this as Confidential.

Best Regards,
Chatwitslash Savimbi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam