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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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Charlton Max <flash6_2007@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: flash73_2010@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:00:12 +0300
Subject: Urgent and Confidential



Att.
Forgive me if this message might offend you without
your prior consent and writing through this channel I
am Mr. Charlton Max.the director, in charge of
Auditing and Accounting sector of Contract Awarding
Committe of African Economic monitoring Authority
Nigeria.
In due respect and regard, I have decided to contact
you on a business transaction that will be very
benficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.
During our investigation and auditing in (AEMA) my
department we discovered a huge sum of money that was
prepaid and un-recorded for in the books of Accounts.
We discovered that it has been floating since 1997
through 2001 in African development Bank. this found
out to be over influence on contract payments.
Personally the information is kept secret by me and my
partner to enable the whole plan and ideas profitable
and successful during the time of execution. The said
amount was USD$14,000,000(fourteen
millionU.S.dollars).
As it may interest you to know, I got your impressive
information through the chamber of commerce in foreign
business relations here in Migeria.
personally my spirit recommended your contacts to me
to be valuable and capable to champion a business of
such magnitude without any problem.
In fact I could have done this alone but because of my
position in this country as a civil servant we are not
allowed to operate a foreign account and would
eventually raise an eyebrow on my side during the time
of transfer because I work in this ministry. This is
the actual reason why it will require a second party
or fellow, who will forward claim as the contractor
and also present a foreign account where the money
would be tranfered into as a payment for contract
executed as it may be after due verification by
designation board.
I would not fail to inform you that this transaction
is 100% risk-free. On smooth conclusion of this
transaction, you would be entitled to 25% sum as
gratification,while 5% will be set aside to take care
of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer
and also telephone bills, while 70% will be for me and
my partners.Please, you have been advise to keep
top-secret as we are still in service and intend to
retire from service after we conclude this deal with
you.
Yours Faithfully.
Mr. Charlton Max

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam