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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.Michael Akpan" <mick_akpan@spymac.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 13:34:58 +0100
Subject: PERSONAL&URGENT

FROM: THE DESK OF : MR.MICHAEL AKPAN
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.


STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

DEAR SIR,

I KNOW THIS PROPOSAL WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE EXPECIALLY WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW THE WRITER CONDSIDERING THE HUGE SUM OF MONEY INVOLVED WHICH COULD MAKE ANY ONE APPREHENSIVE. LET ME START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU, I AM DR.MICHAEL AKPAN, PROJECT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF REFINERIES IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. I SAW YOUR CONTACT DURING MY PRIVATE SREACH AT THE INFORMATION CENTER HERE IN NIGERIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND I WANT TO BELEIVE THAT YOU WILL BE VERY HONESTY, COMMITED AND CAPABLE OF ASSISTING IN THIS BUSINESS VENTURE.

FIRSTLY, LET ME EXPLAIN THE SOURCE OF THIS FUNDS AND WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO.THIS IS OUR GOVERNMENT MONEY THAT WE WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT AND THE SAID AMOUNT WORTH [$55.M ] FIFTY-FIVE MILLION USD. BASED ON THE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WE ARE MAKING ARRENGEMENTS FOR THE FUNDS TO BE CHANNELLED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS ONE OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS.

IT IS BASED ON THIS THAT WE HAVE CONTACTED YOU TO STAND AS OUR PARTNER SO THAT THE MONEY WILL BE RELEASED AND PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AND ALSO, ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND PROOF TO ENABLE YOU GET THE FUNDS HAVE BENN CAREFULLY WORKED OUT AS WE HAVE SECURED FROM DIFFERENT OFFICES CONCERNED FOR THE SMOOTH TRANSFER TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH 20% OF THE REMITTED FUNDS. WHILE WE KEEP 75% AND 5% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET THE EXPENSES AND PAY THE NECESSARY TAXES.

IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE REACH US ONLY BY EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATIONS.


YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR.MICHAEL AKPAN.


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