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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "anthonyofor200" <anthonyofor200@terra.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 04:29:42 -0600
Subject: Next of kin


Dear Sir/Madam

I am making this contact with you in good faith. I got your mail address from the Foreign Department in our Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office. I am working with the African Development Bank Plc,Ikeja Branch Lagos.My purpose of writing you is to ask for your assistance to provide a virgin bank account or your account that contains lettle or no money where we can successfully secure the sum of $15 million fifteen million united states dollars).

For your information,there is one America business merchant based here in Nigeria and his name is Mr.Larry He is the owner of Larry.s fisheries Nig. Ltd, located at No.125 industrial zone, Oshodi expressway, Isolo here in Lagos now have been taken over by Government of Nigeria because nobody came for this company after the death of Mr.Larry. This man died in a plane crash in 2001 together with his wife here in Nigeria. He was banking with my bank and I am his accounting officer.

However, since the death of Mr.Larry, I have been trying to contact any of his relative in the City of Chicago, his home country America through his address with me, to let his people know about his money in our bank but I did not receive any response.I later remembered that Mr.Larry came to my country out of shame he was receiving from his country because he was impotent.

This secret he revealed to me when he was alive because I pestered him to introduce his children to me. Now I have decided to link anybody to stand as Mr.Larry next of kin in order to claim the money he deposited here as Fixed Solid Investment since nobody knew about it.

Government of my country will pay it to Federal Reserve purse if I should declare to them about this fund. Note that there is no risk involved in this transaction, as I will give you all information you may need about Mr. Larry and his banking relationship with my branch to enable you stand as his next of kin to receive this money in your account.
This transaction will go through normal banking process only that you have to stand firm as the next of kin to Mr.Larry just to claim this money. I will direct you on how to apply for the claims of this money. Please if you are interested and capable to carry out this deal with me, Reply me I will require the following information from you for procession of the fund in your favour.

(1)Your private phone and fax number. .
(2)Your home address.
(3)Your full names, age and occupation

I personally need your home address because I do not know you too well before now only that I decided to work with you on trust believing God that you will not cheat on me. Note that we can conclude this transaction within 2 weeks upon your compliance in applying for the claims to our Head Office, as I will direct you. I will give you $5.5million after we conclude this transaction.

Be duly informed that I will be resigning from this banking work to come over to your country after the transfer of this fund to your account.

I will then engage myself in international business since I will have enough money for any kind of business after this transaction.

You need not to be afraid because in as much as I would want my reputation protected,I would also want yours to also be protected.
I m waiting for your urgent response .

Best regards,
Anthony ofor

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam