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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Usman Dagogo <dago24usman@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 06:29:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD DAY


FROM: MR USMAN DAGO.

DEAR FRIEND

I AM MR USMAN DAGO.THE CHAIRMAN OF AUDIT COMMITEE IN THE AUDITING SECTION OF BANK INTERNATIONAL OF AFRICA (BIA) LOME-TOGO IN WEST AFRICA. I WRITE TO YOU WITH DUE-RESPECT AND HUMILITY FOR A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, FOR A RISK FREE TRANSACTION WHICH I FEEL YOU WILL CONSIDER ACCEPTABLE.

THERE IS AN ACCOUNT OPENED IN THIS BANK IN 1990 AND SINCE 1998 NOBODY HAS OPERATED ON THIS ACCOUNT AGAIN. AFTER GOING THROUGH SOME RECORDS IN OLD FILES IN THE BANK I DISCOVERED THAT THIS ACCOUNT HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR THE PAST YEARS.

CARRING OUT SOME INVESTIGATIONS I DISCOVERED THAT THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT Eng. VAN WINKLE, A FOREIGNER AND THE MANAGEING DIRECTOR OF PETROL CHEMICAL SERVICE, AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER BY PROFFESSION. WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY SINCE 2000 IN A MOTOR ACCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE NOTHERN REGION OF OUR COUNTRY (TOGO).

NO OTHER PERSON KNOWS ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT OR ANYTHING CONCERNING HIM, THE ACCOUNT HAS NO OTHER BENEFICIARY AND MY INVESTIGATIONS PROVED TO ME AS WELL THAT NO WORKER OF HIS COMPANY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT AND THIS MONEY:- US$7,800,000.00 (SEVEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUASAND DOLLARS ONLY).

I WANT THIS MONEY TO BE CLAIM/TRANSFER BY A FOREIGNER, IT IS ON THIS RESPECT THAT I AM CONTACTING YOU AS A FOREIGNER UNDER A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THIS MONEY CAN NOT BE APPROVED TO ANY INDIGINE HERE AS NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED FOREIGNER, BUT CAN BE APPROVED TO ANY FOREIGNER WHO MAY COME UP AS NEXT OF KIN TO THIS DECEASED. BECAUSE THE OWNER OF THE MONEY (Eng. VAN WINKLE) WAS A FOREIGNER.

I KNOW THAT THIS INFORMATION WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE MOREOVER WE DON'T KNOW OURSELVES BEFORE, BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND RISK FREE BUSINESS. IF YOU ARE THEREFORE INTERESTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DEAL I WISH YOU GET BACK TO ME SO THAT I CAN INTIMATE YOU ON WHAT NEXT TO DO FOR THE CLAIM/TRANSFER OF THE FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

WHEN YOU CONFIRM THE MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT I WILL ARRANGE FOR AN ACCOUNT WHERE YOU WILL TRANSFER MY OWN PERCENTAGE OF THE FUND. I WILL USE MY POSITION IN THE OFFICE TO PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS FUND.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS BUSINESS, YOU WILL BE TAKEN 35% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, 55% WILL BE FOR ME, WHILE 10% WILL BE FOR ANY EXPENSES OF TRANSACTION.
IF THIS PROPOSAL IS OKAY BY YOU, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR EARLIEST REPLY TO ENABLE ME KNOW YOUR POSITION.

YOURS TRUELY,
MR USMAN DAGO.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam