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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: "MUSA FRANK" <musafrank@msn.com>
Reply-To: musa_frank@graffiti.net
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 13:49:21 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY!!!

DR..MUSA FRANK
(ACCOUNTS DEPT., NNPC)
LAGOS - NIGERIA
EMAIL:musa_frank@fastermail.com
 
 
ATTN:, Neander Stalpers
                                   
                                   URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.
 
IT IS WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT I MAKE THIS URGENT AND IMPORTANT BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU. I AM A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) HERE IN LAGOS. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED
BY MY COLLEAGUES TO SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN THE TRANSFER OF THE SUM OF USD30,000,000.00 (THIRTY MILLION U.S. DOLLARS ONLY). THIS MONEY AROSE FROM A
DELIBERATE OVER INVOICING OF A PARTICULAR CONTRACT AWARDED BY MY CORPORATION IN 1998.
 
WE HAVE BEEN SAFEGUARDING THIS MONEY SINCE THEN, AWAITING AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN THE MONEY CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR SAFE
KEEPING PENDING OUR ARRIVAL FOR SHARING AND UTILIZATION WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT. NOW, THE PRESIDENCY HAS ORDERED THAT ALL DEBTS OWED FOREIGN
CONTRACTORS BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PAID IMMEDIATELY. ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS ORDER, WE WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO PRESENT YOUR COMPANY
AS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS BEING OWED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
 
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE MONEY WILL BE SHARED THUS:- 60% WILL BE FOR US (I AND MY COLLEAGUES), 30% WILL BE FOR YOU FOR PROVIDING THE
NECESSARY ASSISTANCE WHILE THE REMAINING 10% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TRANSACTION.
NOTE THAT THE NATURE OF YOUR COMPANY'S BUSINESS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TRANSACTION, AS ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH-FREE TRANSACTION. NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS STILL IN THE
SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF MY CORPORATION (NNPC) WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN).
 
WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO RISKS INVOLVED ON BOTH PARTIES. WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 14
WORKING DAYS ON RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO THIS PROPOSAL.PLEASE REACH ME THROUGH THE FAX OR EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE SIGNIFYING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS
BUSINESS. THIS INFORMATION IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE CONVEYED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THIS VIS EMAIL:musa_frank@fastermail.com
 
BEST REGARDS,
 
DR.MUSA FRANK
 

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