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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "gabriel Osondu" <gclimax2008@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: gclimax2006ng@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 18:27:09 +0000
Subject: Investment Relatioship

Dr. Gabriel Osondu
HEAD; Treasury/ Credit Unit
FIDELITY BANK PLC.

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: Help Needed For Mutual Investment Relationship.

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this business proposition having gone
through business ensure Hitch-Free at all time. Though, this medium
(Internet) has been greatly safed for privacy in doing this beneficial
transaction. I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the
fastest, surest and most secured medium of communication. However, this
correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such.

I work in FIDELITY BANK PLC. as the HEAD of TREASURY/ CREDIT and my Mission
of
contacting you is based on Trust and Faithfulness that will be attached to
this profitable Investment. The Management and the Legal department of our
BANK (FIDELITY BANK PLC. Victoria Island) in a recent meeting, recommended
that the account of MR. ROBERT FINKELSTEIN, who was one of my branch
depositor, should be declared Dormant and confisticated the depositor‘s fund
to the Bank Treasury according to the Banking procedure and Financial law.
He is a foreigner based in Victoria-Island, unfortunately He is late as he
was amongst those that was Killed in the recent WARRI CRISIS as you can
confirm through this website http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/1083.cfm

He is an account holder in my branch, he owns a dollar account with the sum
of US$18.5M (Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
Only) deposited in the account. In fact it happened that since his death,
the next of kin of the dollar account holder (the brother/relations) no one
has not show up for the claim. This is where I want you to come in. I want
you to come in as the relation of the deceased, I will give you necessary
Assistance and perfect the Legal Authentication documents which will
officially recognise you as a relation to the
deceased.

Then, all the procured documents will be sent to the Payment Authority and
they will automatically contact you for the claims as the Next of Kin to
Late MR. ROBERT FINKELSTEIN. I shall guide you with all diligence and legal
processes to ensure the smooth perfect success of this transaction and the
Funds (US$18.5Million) must be transfered into your own bank account in your
country as the Officially approved beneficiary.

Upon my personal finding on this matter, I kept this information secret to
myself until now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the
deceased customer is a foreigner (from a different country), it is
Officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will pose as a
next-of-kin. I will use my exalted position in this Bank to present you as
his Next of Kin as no body will doubt it once all the required documents are
officially legalized in your favour because i know his
personal lawyer here. Finally, before I made up my mind to contact you I
have concluded every arrangement to ensure that you receive the funds
successfully as the next of kin within four (3-4) working days only.

I will give you more information as soon as you indicate your Interest
/willingness to assist in this transaction. I will use my positions to get
all internal documentations to back up the claims. The whole Procedures will
last only 24hours to obtain the required documents-certificates and get the
fund retrieved successfully Without trace even in future. Please i need the
following to commence:
1. YOUR FULL NAME /PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
2. HOME ADDRESS /COMPANY‘S NAME AND ADDRESS.
3. YOUR PERSONAL PHOTO FOR ME TO KNOW YOU, AND I WILL SEND YOU MY PICTURE ON
MY RECEIPT OF THE YOUR INFORMATIONS.

Take note; after successful conclussion of this transaction, we shall share
the money 40-60 (40% for you and 60% for me). I plead you to reply
immediately whether interested or not, but let me hear from you very fast.

Yours truly,

Dr. Gabriel Osondu,
HEAD; Treasury/ Credit Unit
FIDELITY BANK PLC.


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