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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. STEVEN MBA" <stevmba@mscold.com>
Reply-To: wolej775@web2mail.com
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:53:14 -0600
Subject: PLease Acknowlegde

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister WOLE T. JOHNSON Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to MR. T. COOMBS a national of your country, who used to work with shell development company in Nigeria. On the 2nd of may 1999, my client, his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama Express Road. All occupants in the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money that belong to my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $30 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next ten official working days.

Since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 3 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country and bear the same last name , so that the proceeds of this account valued at $44 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require, As soon as you indicate your interest, i will go to federal high court of justice to obtain all legal documents (affidavit and letter of adminstration). All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guaranteed you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. And please provide m e the following:

1. Full Name :
2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number:
3. Your Contact Address:

This is to enable me commence immediate preparation of all legal document that will back up our claim.

Please get in touch with me by my email to enable us d isc uss further.

Best regards,
WOLE T. JOHNSON Esq:

Please reply to my private mailbox: ( wolej775@web2mail.com )



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