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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:

• 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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • nelson_pt30@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: nelson peters <nelson_pt30@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: nelsonptxxx26@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 28 May 2006 10:03:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Valuable Trust


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: nelson_pt30@yahoo.com

Dear Sir,

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive but I am assuring that all will be well at the end of the day.We have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction,as we have reliably informed of your honesty and ability in a transaction of this nature. Let me first start by introducing myself properly to you.

I am Mr.Nelson Peters, an account officer with the Union Bank Plc,Lagos Nigeria. I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account.THE PROPOSITION: A foreigner, Late Engineer MR.TOM A.CREEK, an Oil Merchant/Contractor with the federal government of Nigeria, until his death some time ago in an auto crash, banked with us and had a closing balance as at the end of September, 2000 worth USD35.5m Thirty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar) which the bank now expects a next of kin to claim as beneficiary.

Valuable efforts have been made by the Bank, to get intouch with any of his immediate family or relatives but there has been no success.It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of his next-of-kin (he had no wife nor children that is known to the bank).That the management under the influence of our Managing Director Chairman,Board of Directors, who requested that arrangement be made for the funds to be declared "UNCLAIMABLE" and to be subsequently donated to the trust fund for arms /ammunitions to further enhance the course of war in Africa and the world in general.

In order to prevent this, some of my trusted colleagues and I, now seek your permission to have you stand as his next-of-kin so that the fund USD35.5m would be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary (next-of-kin). All documents to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out.This proposal is 100% risk-free. We have agreed that the fund be shared thus, after it must have been transferred into your account.

1) 30% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the fund.

2) 10% will be set aside for reimbursement to both parties for any incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of the fund transfer.

3) 60% to us the originators of the transaction. If this proposal is acceptable to you,then take advantage of the trust we have bestowed on you and your company and kindly get to me immediately.

Please, furnish me with your most confidential telephone, fax and mobile numbers for communication.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-peration.

Yours faithfully,

Mr.Nelson Peters,

Account Officer, Union Bank Plc.




- nelson peters

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam