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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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Some comments about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael .C. Mills" <michaelmills@zonai.com>
Reply-To: mcmills@zonai.com
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 02:13:23 +0000
Subject: From me, Michael


Greetings from Isle of Man.

My name is Michael Mills. I am the Head, Audit Committee of a reputable and well known Financial Trust here in Isle of Man. I am contacting you in a non-official capacity and therefore require your utmost confidentiality.

The purpose of my writing to you is because I am searching for a foreign business partner who is in a position to assist me with an urgent business proposal, as time is not on my side. A partner, who understands what confidentiality means and who has the necessary facilities required in embarking on this important venture.

We had a client who deposited a huge sum of money with one of our branches in Europe, who later died in a fatal car accident on November 12, 2001. The client died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with our bank. Since the death of this client, I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of €11,700,000.00 (Eleven Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Euros) deposited with our bank in 2000. This client shares the same surname with you. It is for this reason that I am
contacting you.

In accordance with the European Trust and Federal Laws, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, his investments with our bank shall revert to ownership of the government of the country of the said investments if nobody applies as the next of kin to claim the investments.

Since you share the same surname with this client, I want to present you to stand in as the next of kin so that you and I can benefit from this investment equally (i.e. 50% for you and 50% for me). I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law, as I will use my position to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.

If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly indicate your full names, your private telephone, fax numbers and location where the money will be remitted. I will instruct you on the next step to take.

I look forward to your earliest response.

With warm greetings,

Michael Mills
38-40 Victoria Street,
Douglas,
Isle of Man, IM1 2LB
Tel/Fax:0044-870-133-4013

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