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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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • obinochuks@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Briggs Uba" <briggsuba5@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: briggsuba@yahoo.com.co
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:39:28 +0100
Subject: PLEASE READ THIS AND REPLY URGENTLY


Mr. Briggs Uba.
Oceanic Bank International Plc.
Plot 270 Ozumba Mbadiwe,
Victoria Island,
Lagos Nigeria.

Attn: Sir/Madam.

PLEASE READ THIS EMAIL VERY CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT I REALLY WANT US TO DO.

I am Mr. Briggs Uba I work as an accountant with Oceanic Bank International
Plc. I was the personal accountant to one Engineer Reijo Saunamaki who owned
and ran an oil servicing company here in Nigeria.

Engineer Reijo had an account with the my Bank where he deposited as the
last balance of the sum of $24.9.Million Us Dollars.

Unfortunately, Mr.Saunamaki in April 2004 died with his nuclear family in a
ghastly auto crash along the Ibadan Lagos express road.

Since after his demise, the Bank is not able to find one that has
Relationship with Saunamaki to claim this money as his next of kin. My
Colleagues and I have made concerted efforts, unknown to the bank since the
death of Reijo to trace any one even with the remotest relationship with
Saunamaki without success.

I am therefore contacting you to co-operate with me so that I can position
you as the next of kin to the deceased and claim this money for a sharing
formulary as thus:

40% for you.
10% will be for expenses
50% for me and a substantial part of my own share will be invested in
Istanbul with your honest assistance.

I will lead you to follow strictly the laid down procedures of the bank for
Claims such as this in so much that this will be entirely risk free and
legal.

Thanking you in anticipation for your co-operation.

Respectfully submitted.

Mr. Briggs Uba.




<obinochuks@yahoo.com>

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam