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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Solomon Jones" <solo_johnes10@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <solo_jones@myway.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 23:27:06 +0100
Subject: VERY URGENT.



FROM: MR. SOLOMON JONES . EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DOMICILLIARY ACCOUNTS DEPT. OCEANIC BANK NIGERIA PLC APAPA BRANCH - LAGOS. Dear Friend, First, I have to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Solomon Jones, an executive director with the Oceanic Bank International Plc. I came to know you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to foreign bank account.The proposal is this - An American, CARL J. HACKSON, an Oil Merchant / Contractors with the Federal Government of Nigeria, died of an undisclosed illness five years ago. Before his death, he was one of our most valuable customers. He left a balance of USD$26,233,000.00 (Twenty Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty three thousand Dollars only). This said sum of money can only be claimed by Mr. Hackson's wife, children or Next of Kin. Efforts make by the Bank to get in touch with any member of his family have proved abortive. Mr. Hackson left no WILL nor Instructions and there is no trace that he had wife and kids, so his money remains in the vault of our bank. For three years, I have personally monitored this account and now feel that this is the time to move the whole fund into the foreign bank account. Therefore, I and my trusted colleagues now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to Late Carl J. Hackson so that the funds (USD$26,233,000.00) be paid into your account as next of kin. Be assured that all documents and proves to enable you get this fund will carefully worked out and I guarantee you a risk free involvement. You will get a negotiable percentage of the total sum for your assistance. We shall map out a percentage of this money to take care of minor expenses that could arise in the cause of this transaction. Please note, that I and my colleagues would resigned our positions quietly in the bank if this transaction is successful. We put all our hope and the success of this transaction in you, I hope you will not take undue advantage of us. If you are interested in this proposal, get back to me through email. Thanks Mr.Solomon Jones.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam