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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "TONY EGO" <tony_ego@didamail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 14:31:30 +0100
Subject: THIS PROJECT NEEEDS YOUR REPLY

FROM THE DESK OF
TONY EGO

FAX :234-1-7596311

ATTN: PRESIDENT/CEO



MY NAME IS TONY EGO, THE CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN IN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). I GOT YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FROM AN ASSOCIATE WORKING WITH THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE HERE IN LAGOS AND I
DECIDED TO PROPOSE TO YOU THIS BUSINESS INSTRICT CONFIDENCE.

PURPOSE:

ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE MINISTERIAL OFFICIALS AND THE OTHER OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF OFF-SHORE REMITTANCES IN THIS CORPORATION, WE ARE SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR THE TRANSFER OF FIFTY MILLION, UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR FUTURE PRIVATE INVESTMENT PURPOSE.THIS MEASURE OF CHOSEN YOU IS TAKEN FOR THE FACT THAT AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE PROHIBTED BY LAW HERE TO OWN OR OPERATE FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNTS.

SOURCE OF FUND:

THIS AMOUNT TO BE TRANSFERRED ACCRUED FROM OVER INVOICED CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL REFINERY SUB-STATIONS IN NIGERIA (NORTHERN REGION)
IN 2000 AWARDED TO EXPATRIATE COMPANIES.THE CONTRACT WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY VALUED FOR ONE HUNDRED MILLION U.S.DOLLARS WAS MANIPULATED TO READ ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION, UNITED STATES DOLLARS. THE EXTRA FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS IS WHAT WE WANT TO TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL USE.THE CONTRACT HAS SINCE BEEN EXECUTED AND THE CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN PAID ALL
THEIR CONTRACT BILLS REMAINING FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS AS COMMISSION FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.


DISBURSEMENT:

WE HAVE RESOLVED TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCES WHILE 80% IS FOR US THE OFFICIALS.


SECURITY:

ALL MODALITIES FOR THE SWIFT TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY INTO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT HAS BEEN PERFECTLY WORKED OUT, SO THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.YOU ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP THIS BUSINESS WITH THE STRICKEST CONFIDENCE AS WE EXPECT THIS EXERCISE TO LAST FOR 14 WORKING DAYS FROM THE DAY OF RECEIPT OF YOU BANKING INFORMATIONS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MATTER IN THIS TRANSACTION PROVIDED YOU ARE SELF-DETERMINED AND COURAGEOUS ENOUGH.

I AWAIT YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE THROUGH MY DIRECT FAX LINE:234-1-7596311. I WILL HIGHLY APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN TREAT THIS BUSINESS WITH THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IT DEMANDS FOR SECURITY REASONS.

REGARDS,


TONY EGO



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