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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ben chamber" <benchamber2@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 09:35:04 +0000
Subject: Attn.:Sir/Madam,

Attn.:Sir/Madam,

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

I am the chairman,Tenders Board of the 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 the sum of
$18,500,000.00 Dollars (Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars).The above fund is not connected with arms, drugs or money
laundering,rather,It is the product of an over invoiced contract awarded in
1999 by (INEC) to a foreign company for the supply of electoral materials
that were used for conducting the 1999 elections.

The contract has long been executed and payment of the actual contract
amount has been made to the foreign contractor leaving the balance of
US$18.5 million which my colleagues 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 this fund.

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 subsequent
correspondence. Note also that the particular nature of
your business is irrelevant to this transaction and,also that this
transaction is expected to be concluded within 10 working days since all
local contacts and arrangements are in place for its smooth and successful
conclusion.


If you are interested in the proposal,kindly get back to me
by sending me your letter of acceptance,via email,along with your direct
telephone and fax numbers.

Thank you as I await your response.

Sincerely,

Chief Ben Osagie(Mon).



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam