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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Christopher Okafor <chris_okafor@voila.fr>
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:43:18 +0200
Subject: Your Urgent Response is Needed



From The Desk of Mr.Christopher Okafor
Foreign Remittance Dept,
OF Global Bank Plc,
Corporate Office,
Victoria Island,
Lagos Branch.
Cell:+234-1-760 9828

Dear: Friend,

Best compliment of the day! My name is Mr Christopher Okafor,from foreign remittance dept of  Global Bank Plc, branch section, in charge of credit and foreign bills of one of the Global Bank Plc. However, I got your contact through my internet search.
 
I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my Bank  Engr.(Jerry  Sobran) who was a contractor with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria and a personal friend who perished with his whole family of wife and 2 kids along with 111 others, in benin plane crash on December 26th 2003.There is an account opened in this Bank (GLOBAL BANK PLC) valued $15 million united state dollas,with account number ATS1022002-109 by this great late industrialist who died in the plane crash.
 
I am the account manager to the late industrialist and I personally have watched with keen interest to see the Next of Kin since his death in 2003. This has proved abortive as no one has come up to claim this funds and it cannot be released unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines but unfortunately, all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him at the plane crash leaving nobody behind to claim the money. As a banker to the deceased, I am capable of transferring the credit balance of the late industrialist's account to any foreign bank account of my choice since I have the certificate of deposit for the smooth transfer of the funds.

Therefore,upon this discovery I now decided to trace his LASTNAME over the internet to contact any member of his extended so that you can stand as the next of kin since you share the same LASTNAME and to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you via your foreign bank account as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and this money will be confiscated and could go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill.
 
The total amount involved is ($15 Million United States Dollars).however,I need a foreign partner who will act as the next of kin and beneficiary to the late industrialist and provide a reliable offshore bank account where we can transfer the ($15 Million United States Dollars). I have already done all the necessary ground works for the smooth transfer of the funds.However, I need you to act as the next of kin to the deceased.
 
Since I have the certificate of deposit that can be used to back up any claim we may make for the smooth transfer of the funds, the moment I receive your positive response, it will take us less than 7 banking days to transfer the money into your bank account.For your assistance and co-operation,you will take 50%, 40% to me,while 10% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require of the entire ($15 million United States Dollars),all I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through.
 
Upon the receipt of your positive response,I shall forward to you a text of application which you will send to the bank for claim, I shall also send the certificate of deposit to you, you may also wish to view this web site on the internet to confirm the plane crash http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/
 
You must however NOTE that this transaction is subject to the following terms and conditions;my conviction of your transparent honesty and diligence,that you must accord this transaction with utmost confidentiality and secrecy.
 
Awaiting your urgent reply.
 
NB:PLEASE REMEMBER TO FORWARD YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER TO ME IN YOUR REPLY SO I CAN REACH YOU WITH FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE TRANSACTION.

Gratefully treat as urgent.

Mr.Christopher Okafor
Global Bank Plc 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam