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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: "Shehu Lawal" <inecoffice@planetinec.com>
Reply-To: slawal9@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 23:18:25 +0000
Subject: Confirm Your Capability

Dear Friend,

I guess this letter may come to you as a surprise since I
had no previous correspondence with you.

I am the chairman tender board of Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).I got your contact in my search
for a reliable person to handle a very confidential
transaction involving the transfer of US$20.5million.

The above fund is not connected with arms, drugs or Money
laundering.It is the product of an over invoiced Contract
awarded in 2001 by INEC to a foreign company for the
construction of high rise estate in the federal capital
territory.

The contract has long been executed and payment of the
actual contract amount has been paid to the foreign
contractor leaving the balance,which my colleague and I now
want to transfer out of Nigeria into a reliable foreign
account for our personal use.

As civil servants we are not allowed to run foreign
accounts. Hence we have chosen to front and support you as
the beneficiary to be paid. It is a very good thing that
the president has endorsed the resolution passed by the
senate that all foreign contractors owed by the federal
government of Nigeria be paid.We will seize this good
opportunity to surport you as one of the beneficiaries to
be paid.

If you are interested in the proposal kindly get back to me
by sending me your letter of acceptance along with your
direct telephone and fax numbers, we have decided to share
the money in the following percentage,60%for us 30% for you
the account owner and 10% for all local and international
expenses that may arise in the course of this transaction.

Further details about this transaction will be discussed in
the subsequent correspondence. Note also that the
particular nature of your business is irrelevant to this
transaction and all local contacts and arrangements are in
place for a smooth and successful conclusion of this
transaction.

Be informed that we are aware of the way email proposals of
this type are being sent from this part of africa and as
regards that,you should please treat this with utmost
attention knowing fully well that you cannot and will not
be compelled to assist us if you are not disposed to.

Contact me via my email account with your contact telephone
and fax Numbers, so that I can call you for a discussion.

Thank you as I await your response.

Sincerely,
Shehu Lawal.


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