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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • elviswest2@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "elvis west" <elviswest11@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2006 19:18:06 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

FROM MR ELVIS WEST
Good day,
US$25, million INVESTMENT PROPOSAL
I am so sorry to bulge on you like this without knowing you prior to this
day but I employ you to please read this mail because it has immense
financial benefits for the both of us.I am Mr.Elvis West, Bank Manager of
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA Plc.,Lagos Branch.
I got your contact on my private search on the Internet and I listed your
name amongst four other names and prayed over them and decided to contact
you directly.I have a very urgent and confidential business proposition for
you and for our overall mutual interest.On December 6 1999,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(USD$25m ) in my branch.Upon maturity, I
sent a routine notification to his forwarded address but got no reply.

After a month we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract
employers NNPC, that Mr. Henry died in an automobile accident. On further
investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and allattempts to
trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation
and discovered that Mr. Henry did not declare any next of kin in all his
official documents, including his bank deposit paperwork.This sum
USD$25,000,000.00 is still floating 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 Laws, at the
expiration of 9(Nine) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the
Nigerian government if nobody applies to claim the funds.Consequently, my
proposalis that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as a next of kin
of Mr. Henry Gardner.This is simple 1) I will like you to provide me
immediately with your full names & address so that an attorney will prepare
the necessary documents and affidavits,which will put you as next of kin. 2)
I shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting & notarization of
the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the transfer.3) A bank account in
any part of the world, which you will provide to facilitate the transfer of
this money to you as thebeneficiary.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60%
for me and 40% for you,There is no risk at all as the attorney will do the
paperwork for this transaction and with my position as the branch manager
guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.If you are
interested,please reply immediately via this private email address.Upon your
response,

I shall then provide you with more details that will help you understand.
PLEASE OBSERVE UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY,and be rest assured that this would be
most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to
invest my share in your country.
Awaiting your urgent reply via this email below, please save me the anxiety
of endless waiting.
Please reply to :
elviswest2@yahoo.com
God bless you.
MR ELVIS WEST
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA Plc.Lagos, Nigeria

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam