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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: <sanmtaki@latinmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 6:59:35 -0700
Subject: ATTN: AN AUTHENTIC INFORMATION

ATTN: THE OFFICE OF UTAKI & UTAKI CHAMBERS
(INTERNATIONAL SOLICITORS AND ADVOCATES)
1-2 SIDE STREET,
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
ACCRA, GHANA.

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

COMPLIMENTS

Well I know of the fact that scams are the order of day in Africa particularly from west Africa but I want to assure you that this is not scam.
Meanwhile, I remain myke utaki (san, sag), an attorney at law of international standard. I am a Ghanaian and also a personal attorney to consultant engineer of your country who was killed with his family in inter-ethnic clashes in yendi Accra Ghana in march 2002 .For more information about this: <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/ghana/printable.htm>(warnings)..
Consequent upon this, i have made several attempts in your embassies both in Nigeria and Ghana to see if i can get a relative of the deceased client but to no avail so i am contracting you to assist in his consignments (USD 15 millions) left behind before it is claimed or termed unserviceable by his bank: INTERCONTINENTAL TRUST BANK as they have issued me a notice to provide the next of kin of my deceased client or the account is declared dormant and unserviceable within one month.
I hereby seek your consent and approval to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the account in the amount of USD 15 million be paid into your account. Afterwards, it will be shared between us as follows: 50% for me and 40% for you and the remaining 10% used as expenses in cured in the course of the transfer.
Finally, all I need from you is sincere and honest co-operation and I guarantee you that this will be executed under legitimate arrangements so there will be no infringement of any sort. just indicate your sincere interest by responding promptly to my email: mtaki_b@hotmail.com

BEST REGARDS,

MYKE UTAKI (SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA,SENIOR ADVOCATE OF GHANA)

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