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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "butrus ofori" <butrusofori22@gmx.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:50:50 +0100
Subject:


Friendly Greetings,

 We are a Corporate Financial Service Provider in West Africa. We had a
Customer who deposited (5.250 million pounds with one of our affiliate bank
and eventually Died in a plane crash in 2002 without any reference to the
trace of the relatives or next of kin.

 In accordance with the West African Trust and Federal Laws, at the
Expiration of 6 (six) years, his investments with our Financial Trust
Shall  revert to ownership of the government of the country of the said
Investments if nobody applies as the next of kin to claim the 
investments.

 Since you share the same surname with this client, I want to present You
to stand in as the next of kin so that you and I can benefit from this
investment equally (i.e. 40% for you and 55% for me and my colleagues while
5% for re-imbursement of expenses incured). I guarantee that this will be
executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect Us from any breach
of the law.

 If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly indicate your full Interest
by send to me as below to my confidential email
(butrusofori@latinmail.com)

 Full Name:......................................................
Contact Home Address:...................................
State/City:.....................................................
Zip Code:.......................................................
(NB: No Postal Address Please)
Country:.........................................................
Occupation:....................................................
Post Held:........................................................
Contact Phone Number:...................................
Gender:............................................................
Marital Status:.................................................
Age:....... Nationality:.......................................
Annual turn over:..............................................

 Be remitted. I will instruct you on the next step to take.

 With friendly greetings,

 MR Butrus Ofori.


Nb: The information contained in this e-mail may be confidential and is
intended solely for the use of the named addressee Access, copying or
re-use of the e-mail or any information contained therein by any other
person is not authorized. If you are not the intended recipient please
notify us immediately by returning the e-mail to the originator

Anti-fraud resources: