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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Okafor" <charles_okafor05@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: charlesokafor_3@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 03:33:15 +0000
Subject: Urgent response





Dear Friend,

I am an accountant with OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC; my name is Mr.
CHARLES OKAFOR a Banker. I am the Accounts officer to ENGINEER (A.Tyler) a
Foreign National, who is a contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM
RESOURCES VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS.

Here in after shall be referred to as my client On 30 JAN 2000, my client,
his wife, and their three children were involved in an Auto-Crash along
Lagos -Sagamu Expressway and all died in thisfatal air crash on 21st April
2001. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any
of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, hence I contacted you. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind
by my client before they get the account confiscated or
declaredunserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged,
particularly the OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC Where the deceased had an
account Valued at about ($6.0million us dollars) has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten
official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you are related so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($6.0
million US Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me Can share the
money 60% to me and 40% to you .An attorney will be contracted to help us
revalidate and notarize all the necessarylegal documents that can be used to
back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you and me from any breach of the law and also please send to
me your telephone number so that i can be able to call at once.

Best regards,

CHARLES OKAFOR



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam