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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "john afolabi" <johnsonafooo@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: johnsonafoo1@myway.com
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:10:55 -0500
Subject: DEAR FRIEND.

DEAR ,SIR / MA

I AM MR. JOHNSON AFOLABI, A BANKER WITH UNION BANK PLC.I AM
THE ACCOUTING OFFICER TO MR. PAUL CAPENTER, A
NATIONALITY OF YOUR COUNTRY, WHO USED TO WORK WITH
CHEVRON OIL EXPLORATION COMPANY IN NIGERIA, HEREIN
AFTER SHALL BE REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT.



ON THE 21ST OF APRIL 2003, MY CLIENT, HIS WIFE AND
THEIR THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT
ALONG LAGOS - IBADAN EXPRESS ROAD. ALL OCCUPANTS OF
THE VEHICLE UNFORTUNATELY LOST THERE LIVES. SINCE
THEN I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ENQUIRIES TO YOUR EMBASSY TO
LOCATE ANYOF MY CLIENTS EXTENDEDRELATIVES. THIS HAS
PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL.



I FOUND OUT YOU SHARED THE SAME NATIONALITY WITH MY
CLIENT, THAT IS WHY I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU,
INORDER TO ASSIST IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY AND
PROPERTY LEFT BEHIND BY MY CLIENT BEFORE THEY GET
CONFISCATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE BY THE BANK.

PARTICULARLY, MY BANK HERE WHERE THE DECEASED HAD AN
ACCOUNT VALUED AT ABOUT US$ 12.5 MILLION DOLLARS, HAS
ISSUED ME A NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OF KIN OR HAVE
THE ACCOUNT CONFISTICATED WITHIN THE NEXT TEN OFFICIAL
WORKING DAYS.



SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESFULL IN LOCATING THE
RELATIVES FOR OVER ONE YEARS AND SOME WEEKS NOW,
I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN
TO THE DECEASED SINCE YOU HAVE THE SAME NATIONALITY
SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED AT US$12.5
MILLION DOLLARS CAN BE PAID TO YOU AND THEN YOU AND ME
CAN SHARE THE MONEY, ON THE RATIO OF 60% FOR ME, AND 40%
FOR YOU. I HAVE ALLNECESSARY LEGAL BANK DOCUMENTS THAT
CAN BE USED TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM WE MAY MAKE.

ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST CO-OPERATION TO ENABLE US
SEE THIS BUSINESS THROUGH.



I GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A
LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ANY
BREACH OF THE LAW.


\ PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME BY EMAIL AND SEND TO ME
YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO ENABLE US DISCUSS
FURTHER ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THIS TRANSACTION.
CONTACT MY E MAIL.



BEST REGARDS,
JOHNSON AFOLABI

_________________________________________________________________
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