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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "this mail will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Mike Imaga" <mike_imaga@computermail.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mike_imaga_ng@walla.com
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 14:51:30 +0100
Subject: Mail from Mike Imaga


ECOBANK NIG. PLC
41 Ajose Adeogun Street.
Victoria Island, Lagos.

FROM:MIKE IMAGA
ACCOUNT OFFICER
+234 -803-3285870

ATTN:,

How are you and your family, hope fine? How is your
business, I believe everything is very good.I know that
this mail will come to you as a surprise as we have not
known or met each other before,either as friends or as
business partner. My name is MR MIKE IMAGA, ECOBANK
Nigeria Plc with 29 years banking experience.Presently,we
have an outstanding deposit of US$27,100.000.00 belonging
to Mr. James D. Robert, one of the directors of Chevron
Nig. Plc who died two years ago of heart attack.Now, this
amount has been lying down in dormant personal account of
Mr.James D. Robert without any claim by his next of
kin.However,after thorough inquiries and crosschecking,we
have discovered that no member of his family is aware of
this huge deposit otherwise the bank supposed to have
received a letter of inquiries from them.

Consequently, with the collaboration of my two staff of the
bank, we wish to make and secure economic arrangement by
way of soliciting for a trusted foreigner who can put
immediate claims to this dormant account.

After our last meeting, we have resolved to give you 20% of
the total sum as the account holder while 80% must be
retained for me and my partners for any investment options
in your country.Please be informed that every official
protocol must be attained before swift transfer to your
nominatedbank account,secondly, secrecy is also required
until the conclusion of this transaction. With your co_
operation and punctuality this transaction will take less
than 7 working days of full banking operation and Please
communicate your decision to me urgently,indicating your
Telephone number
in your reply so that I can call you and talk this thing
over with you.


Yours faithfully,
MIKE IMAGA
ACCOUNT OFFICER
ECOBANK. PLC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam