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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: "Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markttony@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 14:51:17 -0300
Subject: Important approach.

Dear Friend
I am Mark Anthony, a techinical consultant. I have a client who made a fixed deposit of fund valued at USD$12,500,000.00
(Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a Finance Company here in Europe and unfortunately, He lost his life in the Libyan
Civil War.
He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit still in my possession. Recently, the financial
institution contacted me asking for the next of kin to the funds or the amount may be declared as unclaimed.

Upon a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin, so that my late client's funds will not be
confiscated by the Financial Regulatory Authority. You will be entitled to 40% of the total fund, 50% for me while 10% is to be
marked out for any expenses that will be incurred during the clearance process of transfer of the fund to your bank account. Be informed that there
is no risk involved as all necessary legal documents that will be used to back you up as the legal beneficiary and next of kin of my late client will
be procured.
Kindly, get in touch with me by my e-mail (markttony@aol.com) For more detail if your interested.

Sincerely
Mark Anthony.

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