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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: MRS ADELA MARTINEZ <adelatrust020@aol.es>
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 16:40:58 +0200
Subject: GREETINGS


I am Adela Martinez, bank manager of Banco Bancaja Madrid branch in Spain.
I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you .On June 6, =
2003, a British contractor with the Spanish petroleum corporation (REPSOL), =
Mr. Barry Kelly made a numbered fixed deposit for twelve calendar months, =
valued at US$30,000,000.00 in my Branch. On maturity, we sent a routine =
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we =
sent reminder and finally his contract employers, the Spanish petroleum =
corporation wrote to inform us that Mr. Barry Kelly died from an automobile =
accident in Berlin, that he died without MAKING A WILL, and all attempts by =
the British Embassy to trace his next of kin was fruitless.
I therefore, made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly =
in fact was an immigrant from Bahamas and only recently obtained British =
citizenship few years ago. He did not declare any next of kin or relations in =
all his official documents, including his Bank deposit paperwork.
The total of US$30,000,000.00 is still sitting in my bank as dormant Account. =
No one will ever come forward to claim it, and according to Spanish law after =
5years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Spanish Government if =
the account owner is certified dead. Sequel to these fact, I am looking for a =
foreigner who will stand as the next of kin to MR.BARRY KELLY. After =
processing the paper works that will reflect you as the next of kin to our =
late client you will henceforth become the new and sole beneficiary of the =
total funds. The total of USD30m will then be paid into an account that you =
will provide for us in the sharing ratio of 70% for me, 30% for you. There is =
no risk at all, and all the paper work for this transaction will be done by =
me using my position and connection in the banks in Spain. And the entire =
transaction shall be governed by the banking procedures of Spain.You have my =
words.
This business transaction is guaranteed. Hence you should indicate your =
interest by replying immediately with your Phone/fax Number or otherwise =
destroy this letter for my sake and my family.

However if you consider it ok, please observe the utmost confidentiality, and =
be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us =
because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. =
You can also send your reply to my private email address =
(infomartinez222@aol.es) Thank you so much and looking forward to receive =
your urgent reply.
All my regards.

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