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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: serah ike786 <searhike786@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <kevendavid@88.am>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 07:54:39 +0000
Subject: MR KEVEN DAVID




FROM THE DESK OF MR KEVEN DAVIDCITY EXPRESS BANK PLC.email:kevendavid@88.amATTENTION:FRIEND,STRICTLLY A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I AM MR KEVEN DAVID, THE MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THEFOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY EXPRESS BANK PLC. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT.

WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $10.5,000.000.00 (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD DOLLARS) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN NOVEMBER 1997 IN A PLANE CRASH.

SINCE WE HARD OF HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING.HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR HIS MONEY AS THE HEIR, BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXTOF-KIN TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID FUND.

UPON THIS DISCOVERY, I AND OTHER OFFICIALS INMY DEPARTMENT HAVE AGREED TO MAKE BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED HE MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK, OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.

WE HAE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATEDTHUS: 30% FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER,60% FOR US THE OFFICAIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND 10% FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES INCURRED BY US AND YOU DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BUSINESS.UPON THE SUCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND OUR SHARE.

IT IS FROM OUR 60% WE INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL MACHINERIES INTO MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND. TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, WE REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR INTEREST BY A RETURN E- MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW.
Your Full Name: ___________________________Your Complete Address:_____________________________Name of City of Residence: ____________________Date of Birth (Day/Month/Year):____________________Direct Telephone Number:_____________________mobile ____________________________Number:_______________________________________Fax Number:____________________________________NOTE ALSO, THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLYCONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE.I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.MR KEVEN DAVID

_________________________________________________________________
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