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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: "okalakwu kindom" <okalakwu_kindom@msn.com>
Reply-To: okalakwu_kindom@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 11:16:00 +0000
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

OKALAKWU KINDOM,
THE CHIEF SECRETARY(CAPITAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION)
FALOMO OFFICE COMPLEX, P.M.B.27091.
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
ATTN,
I AM . OKALAKWU KINDOM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY OFFICER OF THE CAPITAL PETROLEUM
CORPORATION (C.P.C.) UNDER THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(N.N.P.C.). I GOT YOUR CONTACT MAIL ADDRESS FROM AN ASSOCIATE WORKING WITH
THE NIGERIAN EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL IN ABUJA RECENTLY AND DECIDED TO
PROPOSE THIS BUSINESS IN STRICT CONFIDENCE. ON BEHALF OF MY CHAIRMAN, MYSELF
AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE MINISTERIAL OFFICIALS AND THE OTHER OFFICER
INCHARGE OF OFF-SHORE REMITTANCE IN ThIS CORPORATION. WE ARE SEEKING YOUR
ASSISTANCE FOR THE TRANSFER OF (US$20 MILLION) TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR FURTHER
INVESTMENT PURPOSE, HENCE OUR REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. SOURCE OF
FUND:THIS AMOUNT TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT ACCUMULATED FROM
OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OIL REFINERY
SUB-STATION IN THE (NIGER-DELTA) REGION IN NIGERIA IN 1998 TO EXPATRAITE
COMPANIES.THE CONTRACT WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY VALUED FOR (US$209 million) WAS
MANIPULATED TO READ (US$229MILLION), THE EXTRA US$20 MILLION IS WHAT WE WANT
TO TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT.THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY EXECUTED AND
THE CONTRACTOR HAD BEEN PAID ALL THEIR CONTRACT BILLS REMAINING US$20
MILLION. WHAT WE EXPECTED FROM YOU DURING YOUR REPLY ARE: (A). YOUR NAME AND
CONTACT ADDRESS, YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMUNICATION.
(B). YOUR BANK NAME AND ADDRESS, YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER FOR SUBMISSION TO
THE MINISTRIES AS TO WHERE THIS MONEY WILL BE LODGED. (C). YOU SHALL ARRANGE
FOR US TO MEET WITH YOU IMMEDIATELY THE TRANSFER HAS EFFECTED INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT ON YOUR CONFIRMATION. WE HAVE RESOLVED THAT YOU TAKE 20% OF THE
TOTAL AMOUNT FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO
CLAIM THIS OVER CONTRACT SUM HERE IN NIGERIA.10% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT FOR ANY
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENCES INCURED BY YOU AND US DURING THE PROCESS WHILE 60% IS
FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES INCLUDING OUR CHAIRMAN. ALL MODALITIES TO EFFECT
THE PAYMENT AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY TO YOUR ACCOUNT HAVE BEEN
WORKED OUT, SO IT'S 100% RISK FREE. THOUGH, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TREAT THIS
BUSINESS WITH THE STRICT CONFIDENCE.
I AWAIT YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
ON MY ATTENTION AND SEND ME YOUR CONFIDENTIAL PHONE
AND FAX NUMBERS FOR SPEEDY CORRESPONDENCE. I WILL
HIGHLY APPRECIATE IF YOU TREAT THIS BUSINESS WITH THE
STRICT CONFIDENCE IT DEMAND FOR SECURITY REASONS.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
OKALAKWU KINDOM.


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