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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: kevin richard Kanayo <k.richard@becomm.net>
Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 17:37:41 +0100
Subject: ATTEND TO THIS MAIL

FROM: KEVIN RICHARD KANAYO
THE ACCOUNT DEPARTMENT
NO, 13, WILLIAMS AVENUE
MARY LAND LAGOS,
NIGERIA.


EMAIL: nig_petro@yahoo.com

FAX NUMBER 234-1-759-6694

DEAR SIR / MADAM

RE: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS REQUEST
HAVING CONSULTED WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION HERE IN NIGERIA, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF EIGTEEN MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($18,600,000.00) INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. THE ABOVE SUM RESULTED FROM AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT EXECUTED, COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS (5 YRS) AGO BY A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR.

THIS ACTION WAS HOWEVER INTENTIONAL AND SINCE THEN THE FUND HAS BEEN IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, OUR APEX BANK. WE ARE NOW READY TO TRANSFER THE FUND OVERSEAS, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INFORM YOU THAT AS CIVIL SERVANTS WE ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNTS; THAT IS WHY WE REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE. THE TOTAL SUM WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS: - 70% FOR US, 25% FOR YOU AND 5% FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES INCIDENTAL TO THE TRANSFER. THE TRANSFER IS RISK FREE ON BOTH SIDES.

I AM AN ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (N.N.P.C). IF YOU FIND THIS REQUEST ACCEPTABLE, YOU CAN SEND US YOUR BANKING DETAILS AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER WERE WE CAN REACH YOU AND THIS BUSINESS WILL TAKE US 21 WORKING DAYS TO ACCOMPLISH. FOR SECURITY REASONS ALL CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MY EMAIL ACCOUNT ABOVE.



PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY

BEST REGARDS,

KEVIN RICHARD KANAYO.

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