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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: "Mike Abi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikeabiprvt2@skymail.mn>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:17:29 -0500
Subject: LETS HAVE THIS TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From : Mr.  Mike Abi
Private Email: mikeabiprvt2@skymail.mn
 
 
  Sir/Madam
   
    TRANSFER OF $25MILLION COMMISION INTO YOUR COMPANY OR PERSONAL ACCOUNT.
   
    I am Mike Abi the chief finance officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC). I got your email information through an attachee at the Nigerian chamber of commerce, industry, mines. And Agriculture, In my search for a reliable and reputable institution/person who can handle a very strictly, confidential transaction of the transfer of my commission amounting $25million to a reliable account.
   
    This $25million commission is in the suspense account of my department for some time now which is commission given to me by a contractor for helping them to secure this contract from our ministry, this contract has been duley executed for the corporation some years back.
   
    I am now seeking if you can permit the commission to be remitted into your personal/company account so that the money remitted will be shared between you and I.
   
    However, I want to receive your assurance that you will not sit on the money when it goes into your account. Most importantly, this transaction must be kept confidential in order to protect the confidence reposed in my office by my Ministry.
   
    I have decided  in principle that 60% of the money goes to me where the money originated while 30% to the owner of the account and 10% to offset any expense we may encounter in the course of this transaction. I wish to inform you that this transaction requires urgent reply to enable us conclude the transaction soonest.
   
    This transaction is risk free in all respect. Please contact me through the above addresses for further details.
   
    Your urgent response will be highly appreciated.
   
    Best regards
   
    Mr. Mike Abi

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