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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: "Robert Obi" <robertobi@webpim.cc>
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 09:05:19 GMT
Subject: Private

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am barrister Robert Obi, a solicitor at law and the personal attorney to
late Mr.Mark Crinsky, a national of your country who used to be a private
contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company, Lagos, herein
after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2002, my
client, his wife and their three children were involved in an auto accident
along Sagbama Express Road, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives and since then, I have made several enquiries to your embassy
to locate any of my client's extended relatives. This has also proved
unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name
over the internet to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you
to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client
before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where
these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Eco Bank International
where the deceased had an account valued at about $10.5 million U.S.
dollars has issued me a notice to provide an INHERITANT or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at $10.5Million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can
share the money as thus 45% for me, 25% for you, 25% for Charity
Organizations and 5% to cover up any expenses we might incur during the
course of this transaction. I will procure all necessary legal documents
that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your
honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee
you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. Please respond urgently to:
robertobi001@yahoo.com

Best regards,

Dr. Robert Obi.

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