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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 by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Stepkowa Wlodzimiez <stepkow_wlodzimiez@gawab.com>
Reply-To: astekoww@yahoo.pl
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 13:47:31 +0200
Subject: hello


I am Dr Stepkowa Wlodzimiez a Polish and the personal doctor of Chief Atiku Abubakar. I write to inform you of my desire to acquire estates or landed properties in your country on behalf of the Hourarable Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Considering his very strategic and influential position, he would want the transaction to be strictly confidential as possible. He further wants his identity to remain undisclosed at least for now until the completion of the transaction. I have therefore been directed to inquire if you would agree to act as our overseas' agent in order to actualise this transaction.

The deal in brief is that the funds with which to carry out our proposed investments in your country is presently deposited in a Spanish bank account and we need your assistance to transfer the funds to your country or any safe account outside your country in a convenient bank account before we can put the funds into use.

We hope to settle your effort and assistance with 9% percent of the total sum of USD97M, and as soon as payment is effected and the amount mentioned is successfully transferred into your account, we intend to use our own share in acquiring some estates abroad. For this too, you shall serve as our agent. It might interest you to note that last year, a similar transaction was carried out with one Mr. Wan Joe Insaf of Malaysia but after securing the transfer approvals, and transfer effected, Mr. Wan Joe Insaf changed his numbers and addresses, and was no where to be found on our getting to Malaysia. That was how we lost US$29.5Million. So this time around, I will be with you before the remittance is made into your provided account to avoid future occurrence and to allow trust to play a very minimal role until performance is seen.

You are requested to communicate your acceptance or otherwise of this proposal, through my personal email address
astekoww@yahoo.pl
after which we shall discuss in details the modalities for seeing this transaction through.
If however, you are not disposed to assist, kindly destroy this letter in view of the confidentiality of the proposed transaction and interest of personalities involved.
Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.
Best Regards,
Dr. Stepkowa Wlodzimiez

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