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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: "Frank Willy" <frank_ubnplc@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 06:39:43 -0400
Subject: Reach me.

FROM MICHAEL ODOGWU (UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC)

DEAR RESPECTED ONE .

RE: PRIVATE BUSINESS INTRODUCTION

I AM MR. MICHAEL ODOGWU, THE MANAGER, BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN
REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. I AM WRITING THIS
LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT.

CONSEQUENTLY, THERE IS AN ABANDONED SUM OF $15,000,000.00(FIFTEEN MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN
CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN
NOVEMBER 1999 IN A CAR ACCIDENT ALONG LAGOS \ SHAGAMU EXPRESS ROAD. FOR OVER
FIVE YEARS AND ABOVE WE HEARD OF HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING ANY OF
HIS RELATIONS TO COME OVER AND LODGED CLAIMS FOR THESE MONEY AS THE NEXT OF
KIN TO THE DECEASED, BUT UP TILL THIS HOUR I AM PLACING THIS CONTACT, NO ONE
HAS SHOWN INTEREST.

HOWEVER, SINCE THE BANK CAN NOT RELEASE THE FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS
SOME ONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED
IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES, I AM THEREFORE SOLICITING TO DO THE BUSINESS WITH
YOU SO THAT THE BANK WILL RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE
HEIR OF THE FUND SINCE NO BODY CAME FOR IT AND AT THE SAME TIME, NO BODY
DISCOVERED THAT HE MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK.

ON SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSSION OF THE DEAL, OUR SHARING WILL BE AS STATED THUS;
35 % FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER, 60 % FOR US THE OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT
AND 5% FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENCES INCURRED BY ME
AND YOU DURING THE COURSE OF THIS BUSINESS. UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
OF THIS TRANSFER, I WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND MY SHARE. FROM MY 60
% I INTEND TO IMPORT AGRICULTURAL MACHINERIES INTO MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF
RECYCLING THE FUND.

TO COMMENCE THIS TRANSACTION, I REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR
INTEREST BY A RETURN E-MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR PRIVATE CONTACT TELEPHONE
NUMBER, FAX NUMBER FULL NAME AND ADDRESS. THE REQUESTED INFORMATION WILL BE
SENT TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FOR NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE
TRANSFER CAN BE MADE. AFTER THE BANK'S APPROVAL, THEY WILL THEN ASK FOR YOUR
BANK CORDINATES TO EFFECT THE TRANSFER. NOTE. CONTACT E-mail::
michael_odogwu@hotmail.com

I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.

REGARDS,

MICHAEL ODOGWU

_________________________________________________________________
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