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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348053017182 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: larry smith <larrys@shiftreload.com.au>
Reply-To: larrysmith23@myway.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 13:35:40 +1000
Subject: Dear friend,

Dear friend,

We want to transfer to overseas {$20,000,000] Twenty Million United States dollars from Wema Bank Nigeria Plc.I would like, if you will be capable and fit to Provide either an existing Bank account or to set up a new Bank account immediately to receive this money, even an Empty account can serve to receive this money, as long
As you will remain honest to me till the end of this Important business transaction.

I want to believe that you will never let me down either Now or in future. I am Mr.Larry Smith Director of Accounts Department of Wema Bank Nigeria Plc, during the course Of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account Opened with our Bank in 2000 and nobody has Operated on this account again, after going through some old
Files in the records I discovered that the owner of the Account died without a heir hence the money is floating And if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be
Forfeited for nothing.

The owner of this account was Engr. Andrew Meyer ,a National of your country, and an Industrialist, he died since 2002 and no other person knows about this account or anything Concerning it, the account has no beneficiary and my Investigation proved to me as well that Engr.Andrew Meyer Until his death was a Manager with an oil firm in Nigeria. I am contacting you as a foreigner because this Money can only be approved to a foreigner with a Foreign account because the Money is in us dollars and the former owner of the account Engr. Andrew Meyer is a foreigner.

I am revealing all this to you with the belief that You will never let me down in this business, you are The first and the only person I am contacting for the Business so Please reply urgently for me to tell you The next Step to take.

You should forward your telephone/fax numbers and your Residential address, which is also needed. You will have To give me the assurance when we meet that this money Will be intact pending our physical arrival in your Country for sharing and disbursement of the fund which Will be 35% for your assistance, 60% will be for us while 5% will be set aside to take care of all the Expenses that will be incurred by both parties during The course of the transfer.

I look forward to your earliest response immediately and give me a call for more details +2348053017182

Yours faithfully,
Mr.Larry Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam