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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:
  • "you will be given 30%" (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.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348082135910 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Williams" <michaelwilliams010@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:00:13 -0400
Subject: Attn: Mehmet Tutuncu



From:Mr.Michael WilliamsOperations Manager Ecobank Plc.Plot 32/35 Marina RoadLagos Island, Nigeria.

(RE: TRANSFER OF $41,000.000.00 USD PLEASE KEEP THIS PROPOSAL HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL TO YOUR SELF)

Attn: Mehmet Tutuncu

I want to transfer to overseas ($ 41,000.000.00 USD) from a bank here in Nigeria, I want to ask you to quietly look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new Bank a/c immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me till the end of this important business trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I am Mr.Michael Williams, Operations Manager Ecobank Plc, during the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1990 and since 1993 nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files in the records I discovered that the owner of the account died without a [heir] hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing. the owner of this account is Mr.Chris Marco , a foreigner, and a sailor, and he died since 1993. and no other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that Chris Marco was the manager of Chris Coy.(Ng). LTD.

We will start the first transfer with Eleven million USD [$11,000.000.00 USD] upon successful transaction without any disappoint from your side, we shall re-apply for the payment of the remaining amount to your account,The amount involved is (USD 41M) I don't know any foreigner in my life, I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local person here, without valid international foreign passport, but can only be approved to any foreigner with valid international passport or drivers license and foreign a/c because the money is in US dollars and the former owner of the a/c Mr. Chris Marco is a foreigner too, [and the money can only be approved into a foreign a/c.

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine.because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you, upon your positive response and once I am convinced that you are capable and will meet up with instruction of a key bank official who is deeply involved with me in this business.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 30% of the total amount, 60% will be for me,5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during the process of transferring and 5% will be for orphanage homes. I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible if you are interested.

Please send to me your telephone number for more details.
Yours Sincerely,

Mr Michael Williams. Direct Line: +234-808-213-5910

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam