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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: oseni oseni <oseni29@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <osenioseni2007@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:38:52 +0000
Subject: Reply Urgent



Dear Friend, With warm heart I offer my greetings and also friendship, I hope this mail meets you in good health. However it’s strange and surprising this contact might seem to you, because we have not met before either physically or through correspondence. I humbly ask that you take due consideration of it's importance and immense benefit.

I am Oseni Oseni, a bank branch manager (Zenith Bank).My bank have a foreign customer who was a major Contractor with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He runs and maintain a corporate dollar account in my branch bank, and also resident in Nigeria. I am his account custodian until the time he met his death through an auto accident in the year 2004 along with his family. I’m contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by this customer before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit was made. Particularly the (Zenith Bank) where the deceased has an account valued at about 17.8 million dollars. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, I now seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased since you are from the same country with the deceased and also have the same last name so that the Proceeds of this account valued at 17.8 million dollars will be paid to you. If you agree, we can discuss my percentage. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law. Your urgent response will be highly appreciated. Awaiting your response. Best regards, Oseni OseniBank Branch Manager (Zenith Bank)


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam