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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: "JAMES IRABO" <private4ijames@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:21:07 +0000
Subject: MY INTRODUCTION.

Dear Sir,

I am Prince James Irabo. from the First Bank of Nigeria Plc,Lagos Branch.I
got your contact through.the internet I have urgent and very confidential
business proposal for you. On January 7, 1999, an America Oil
consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,Mr.
Charles Ballassi made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar
months, valued at US$9,700,000.00(Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand
Dollars)in my branch upon maturity. I sent a rountine notification to his
forwarding address but got no reply.After a month,wesent a reminder and
finally we discovered from his contract employers,the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation that Mr.Charles Ballassi died in the plane crash of 31
October 1999[with Egyptian 990] with other passengers aboaed as you can
confirm it yourself via the website below:
http://www.cnn.com/us/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html
on further investigation, i found out that he died without making a WILL,
and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.I therefore made further
investigation and discovered that Mr. Charles Ballassi did not declare any
next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his bank
deposit paperwork in my bank. This sum ofUS$9,700,000.00 is still in my bank
and the interest is being rolled over with the pricipal sum at the end of
eachyear. No one will ever come forward to claim it.According to Nigerian
law, at the expiration of (Six)years, the money will revert to the ownership
of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently,my proposal is that i will like you as a foreigner to stand as
the next of kin to Mr. Charles Ballassi so that the fruit of this old man's
labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt Government officials.
This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full name and
address so that the Attorney will preparethe necessary documents and
affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin.We shall employ
the service of two attorney for the drafting and notarization of the WILL
and obtain the ecessary documents and letter of probate/administration in
your favour for the transfer.Any bank account in any part of the world which
you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as
the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us
to share in ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all,
the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my
position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of ths
transaction. If you are interested,please reply immediately via the private
email address below,upon your responce,i shall provide you with more details
and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please
observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of us because i shall require your
assitance to invest my share in your country. Please upon the reciept of
this mail message, send to me the following to enable start the process of
the fund into your bank
account:
1. Your full Name and address
2. The name of your bank
where you want the fund to be transferedinto, Account beneficiary 3. Your
private Telephone and fax numbers

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email:ijames707@ny.com or
ijames707@seeqmail.com

Thanks and regards
Prince James Irabo.
MANAGER,FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PlC.



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