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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MR.MIKE ANTHONY" <mikeanthony@ecplaza.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mikeanthony@ecplaza.net
Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2004 03:56:34 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

BRANCH MANAGER,
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
ILUPEJU BRANCH LAGOS
NIGERIA.
MY PERSONAL E-MAIL:mikeanthony@ecplaza.net
ATTN: PRESIDENT/C.E.O

I am pleased to get across to you for a very urgent and profitable business proposal, though I don't know you neither have I seen you before but my confidence was reposed on you when the Chief Executive of Lagos State chamber of Commerce and Industry handed me your contact for a confidential business. I am the manager of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Ilupeju branch, Lagos Nigeria. The intended business is thus; We had a customer, a Foreign resident in Nigeria, he was a Contractor with one of the Government Parastatals. He has in his Account in my branch the sum ofUS 22.6 Million (Twenty Two Million, Six Hundred Thousand U.S {Dollars).Unfortunately, the man died three years ago until today non-of his next of kin has come forward to claim the money. Having noticed this,

I in collaboration with two other top Officials of the bank have covered up the account all this while. Now we want you (being a foreigner) to be fronted as one of his next of kin and forward your account and other relevant documents to be advised to you by us to attest to the Claim. We will use our positions to get all internal documentations to back up the claims. The whole procedures will last only five working days to get the fund retrieved successfully without trace even now or in future. Your response is only what we are waiting for as we have arranged all necessary things.

As soon as this message comes to you kindly get back to me indicating your interest, then I will furnish you with the whole procedures to ensure that the deal is successfully concluded. For your assistance we have agreed to give you twenty five percent (25%) of the Total sum at the end of the transaction while 65% would be for my colleagues and I and the remaining 10% would be for any form of expenses that may be incurred during the course of the transaction which would be given to us when the money is transferred into your account before splitting the balance on the agreed percentage of 65% to 25%. In order to get all the legal documents from the court, kindly send the following information to us immediately. Your full name, telephone, mobile and fax numbers as well as your resident or company address. I await your earliest response.PLEASE ALSO REPLY TO ME THROUGH MY PERSONAL E-MAIL:mikeanthony@ecplaza.net

Thanks,

Yours Sincerely,

MR.MIKE ANTHONY



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