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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: "Ambi N." <namisguud@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 12:57:09 +0800
Subject: Looking Forward To Hearing from You

Dear Sir/Madam,

First and foremost I would like to apologize for infringing on your privacy by sending you an unsolicited email, I decided to contact you via an email to get us acquainted since it is a safer way of private communication. If you must know, I came about your contact information through a chamber of commerce and industry directory on the Internet while trying to locate any link to my deceased client.

I am Ambi Najib. Esq., an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr. Edwards J. Donald, who were in after shall be referred to as my client, died as a result of heart related illness in November 1999.
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance company where this deposit valued at US$16.400, 000.00 Dollars is lodged. This finance company has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated and the fund remitted to the Federal Reserve. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client; so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share
the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.

Best regards,
Barrister Ambi N. Esq.



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