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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: "smith alex" <alex_smith004@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: alexander_smith@walla.com
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:32:11 +0000
Subject: Contact me

Dear Sir/Madam



URGENT BUSINESS
PROPOSAL


I have picked-up the trust and courage to write you this letter with
utmost belief that you are a reliable and honest person who will be capable
for this important business transaction believing also that you will never
let me down either now or in the future.



My name is, Alex Smith, a junior auditing officer with a yet to be
mentioned bank in the United Kingdom. There is an account opened in this
bank in 1980 and since 2001 nobody has operated on this account again. After
going through some old files in the record, I discovered that if I do not
remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited to the government as
dormant account.



The owner of this account is Mr. John Williams, a foreigner, He was a
miner at Kruger Gold Company, a geologist by profession, and he died since
2001 in a mine accident. No other person knows about this account or
anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary!! And my
investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know anything
about this account and the amount involved would not be disclose until an
interest is shown. I want to transfer this sum into safe foreign account
abroad. I am contacting you based on the fact that you are a foreigner
because this money can only be approved for payment to a foreigner. I know
that this proposal will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves
before.



We will have to sign some agreement before the final transfer of the
funds into any of your designated bank account. I have involved a very
senior official in the operational department, and we have agreed that after
the transfer of the money into your account, you shall be entitled to 40% of
the total sum while I and my colleagues will have 60%. All necessary
precautions have been taken to ensure a risk free situation on the side of
both parties.
Please note that this deal can only take place on the following conditions,



a) You will provide the bank account and other relevant particulars/
information for easy and onward remittance of the funds not to me but to the
bank in question.



b) Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be required and guaranteed,
considering our position in the bank.



c) Assurance that our own share will be released to us in good faith when
this money finally gets into your account.



All things being equal, this transaction will be within 56 working days as
soon as we hear from you. Please treat with utmost confidentiality! Contact
me as quickly as possible, indicate your convenient telephone and fax
numbers for further information and better communication. Thanks and God
bless you.



Yours cordially
Alex Smith.
(JUNIOR AUDITING OFFICER)
Reply me on email:
alexander_smith@walla.com

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