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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • douglas_moore035@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Douglas Moore <douglas_moore035@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: douglas_moore@myway.com
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 03:14:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM MR DOUGLAS (STRICTLY PERSONAL)


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: douglas_moore035@yahoo.com

MR DOUGLAS MOORE

ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT DEPT.

UNION BANK LAGOS NIGERIA.

PO.BOX 126






Dear Friend,

I am Mr Douglas Moore,the secretary in the office of the director incharge account and audit dept of UNION BANK PLC. With due respect and regards,I have decided to contact you on a mutual business transaction that will be of great benefit to both of us.

During the auditing of our bank,it was discovered that a total sum of 12.5 million US dollars (Tewelve million,Five Hundred Thousand US dollars)was abandoned in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Dr. Mohamed Galal who died in EgyptAir Flight 990 plane crash of 31st october 1999. No body was recovered from the crash incident. For clear confirmation,you can visit the website below:

www.cnn.com/us/9911/02/egyptair990.list/index.html


Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of Kin to come over and claim his money because the money cannot be release unless somebody applies for it as next of Kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking and financial policies but unfortunately we learnt that his supposed next of kin or relation died along side with him in the accident leaving no body behind to claim the money.

It is therefore upon this discovery that I and other officials in my department now decided to make this business proposal to you and for you to stand as his next of kin so that this money will be tranfferred to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since all efforts to trace the relatives of the deseased failed.



The Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after five years, the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund.

The request for a foreigner as next of kin in this business is highly needed for the fact that the customer was a foreigner and an indigene cannot stand as next of kin to the deceased family.



We agreed that 20% of this money will be for you as foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account, 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during this transaction and 75 % would be for me and my colleagues.



There after you will be adviced on how you will send our percentage to us according to the percentages indicated and again seek your conscent for any profitable investment in your country.



Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the Bank as relation or next of kin of the deceased

indicating your private, telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be remitted. Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain any fear as all required arrangements have been made for the transfer.



You should contact me on my Tel and e-mail as soon as you receive this letter.

We can conclude this operation within ten banking days.


Please keep this very confidential. Contact me for more information, May God be with you. Expecting to hear from you asap.


Yours faithfully,

Mr Douglas Moore.




- Douglas Moore

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam