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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: "Gary Anderson" <ganderson_006@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dukar05@fastermail.com
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 09:50:06 -0500
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED

Dear Freind
Urgent And Private


I am Bar. Gary G.Anderson esq, and I am contacting you on business
transfer of a huge sum of money from a deceased account. Though I know that
transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried,but
I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day,I decided to
contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION:
I am the attorney to Dr. Mohamed Galal (deceased) one of our foreign
client.while alive I oversees his estate and
otherofficial/financialobligations as my office demanded being his
attorney.Unfortunately, he diedalong with his entire family in the plane
crash of 31 October, 1999 on board the Egyptian Airline 990 along side other
passengers. Please consult the website below for
verification.www.greatdreams.com/PassEAir990.htm.

While he was alive, none of his family members was ever known to meother
than his immediate nuclear family.Since his death, none of hisnext-of-kinor
relations has come forward to lay claims to this money asthe heir. Icannot
release the fund from his bank unless someone applies
for claim asthe next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking
guidelines.

Having made a very frantic and exhaustive search for any of his
familymembers for the claim of the fund proved abortive, I decided to takemy
chance with you.I now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin
to the deceased as Ihave all documentations including his certified Death
Certificate that will facilitate your stand as next of kin to him as he had
a closing balanced of 11,200,000.00 GBPS(Great British Pounds Sterling)here
in London with a bank. I also have secured from the probate an order of
mandamus to locate any member of deceased family to become benefi ciary of
this fund.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our
mutualbusiness endeavour by furnishing me with the following:1.Beneficiary
name and addres 2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers
These requirements will enable me make some internal re-adjustments and file
your name in all the forms and other vital documents as next of kin which
before now was left blank by the deceased in all his files with me seven
years ago. Upon your reply, I will advice the way forward.I must assure you
that if you are serious and follow my instructions carefully,then thisfunds
will be released to you within a seven-working-day period.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the
trust I have bestowed in you, I await your urgent mail.

Regards,

Gary G. Anderson esq.


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