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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: Doctor Robert Gilbert. <robertgilbert58@gmail.com>
Reply-To: robertgilbert58@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:28:41 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSSINESS OPPORTUNITY.


My Dear,
I choose to reach you through this medium because it is the fastest and most reliable way of communication, as I wish to solicit for your utmost assistance in what I strongly believe will be of great benefit to both of us.
I am Dr.Robert Gilbert, an external auditor with Bank Of Scotland in London. The issue I am presenting to you a case of one of my late customer,Dr.Don Wiley a researcher of deadly Viruses including HIV and Ebola virus who was murdered by unknown assassins leaving an unclaimed treasury bills (Bonds) with my bank.In 1999,my late customer invested in treasury bill bonds here in my bank in London totaling £15 million pound sterling (£15,000,000.00) which was due to be collected in 2006 with accrued dividends.
On my yearly appraisal of my customers at the turn of every year, I discovered that this fixed deposit remained overdue for retrieval. I had put up series of mails and bank notifications to his immediate family including sending notification to his wife Katrin but they were sent back uncollected.Since his death in 2001,I have managed his account expecting any of his extended relatives to come forward to claim his money but all attempts to trace his relatives over the years has been fruitless since he did not declare any of his relatives information in his banking records with us. Added to this, professional ethics obligates us.
According to the United Kingdom banking law, the money will be bequeathed to the government if it remains unclaimed . However, I don"t belong to that school of thought which proposes that the fortunes of unlucky people be given to the government and I am fully convinced that no one would turn up to execute the letter of administration to claim his funds.
Hence, I decided to contact you to come in as the next of kin to my late customer so that the funds totaling £15,000,000.00 can then be transferred to you as inheritor within 10 working days after we have filed in your claims transfer application to the bank.I will prepare every operation that will assist you to claim the funds as the next of kin and everything will be left between you and me.The share will be 40% for you and 60% for me.
As the most senior account manager with the bank be rest assured that all documents to enable you get this fund as the next of kin will be carefully worked out. Do not be bothered that you are not related in any way to my late customer as I am in position to affix your name as the next of kin.
I need not emphasize the confidentiality of this issue and I therefore appeal to you not to discuss this request with anybody, Let me ask you,Can i invest in your country?
I look forward to your quick reply.
Dr. Robert Gilbert
London

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