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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • abdullahmramustapha_2007@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Esq Peter Murfy <eqs_petermurfy1j@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mramustapha_2007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:29:29 +0000
Subject: Next Of Kin Claim!!!



Dear Friend, Goodday to you. I am Mr. Mustapha Abdullah, Branch Manager First City Monument Bank Plc Lagos Nigeria.A national of your country. Who used to work with the Shell-development Company in Nigeria before his death. On the 22nd of October 2005, himself, his wife and their three children were involved in a plane crash on their way from Lagos to Abuja. All passengers of the plane unfortunately lost their lives. Below is a BBC News link for the plane crash, click on the link to see for yourself: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4368516.stm Since his demise, I have made several enquiries to locate any of the extended relatives and it has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the assets and Capital valued at US$25,540Million left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the share holders of this Bank, so that they can share his funds as dividends amongst themselves. The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin before the end of this financial year or have the account confiscated . Because as at the time of his demise I was his account officer, but have since been promoted to the position of Branch Manager. I hereby seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased , so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you since you have thesame last names. All I require from you is your honest cooperation and confidentiality in this regard to enable us see this transaction through as I have all necessary formation and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. Please be rest assured that this transcaction is 100% risk free. I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. We shall agree on the mode/percentage of sharing the funds immediately I get your response. I am waiting to hear from you soon. Best regardsMr. Mustapha Abdullahmramustapha_2007@yahoo.co.uk
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam