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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: <mike2009ng@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 20:02:00 +0200
Subject: FROM LETTER MR MIKE IRAGBOR


=CE=CF=E3=C9 =C7=E1=C8=D1=ED=CF =C7=E1=E3=CC=C7=E4=EC =E3=DE=CF=E3=C9 =E3=
=E4 =E3=E6=DE=DA =E3=DD=DF=D1=C9 =C7=E1=C5=D3=E1=C7=E3 =E6=C7=E1=E3=E6=DE=
=DA =DB=ED=D1 =E3=D3=C6=E6=E1 =DA=E4 =E3=CD=CA=E6=ED=C7=CA =C7=E1=D1=D3=C7=
=E1=C9.
=E3=E6=DE=DA =C5=D3=E1=C7=E3=ED =D4=C7=E3=E1 =ED=E5=CA=E3 =C8=C3=CE=C8=C7=
=D1 =C7=E1=E3=D3=E1=E3=ED=E4 =CD=E6=E1 =C7=E1=DA=C7=E1=E3 =E6=ED=CD=CA=E6=
=EC =DA=E1=EC =E3=DF=CA=C8=C9 =D6=CE=E3=C9 =E3=E4 =CF=D1=E6=D3 =E6 =DD=CA=
=C7=E6=EC.
www.islammemo.cc

Service provided by the site Islammemo=20
The first Islamic site that care about islam and Muslims around the wor=
ld.
islammemo.cc not responsable for the contents of this message.
www.islammemo.cc


Dear friend.
It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will b=
e a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if=
I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive this unusual=
manner of contacting you, but this particular letter is of exceptional a=
nd very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and=
distrust in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact t=
hat, so many individuals have taken advantage of the Internet to facilita=
te their nefarious activities, thereby making it extremely difficult for =
genuine and legitimate business class persons to get attention and recogn=
ition. There is no way for me to know whether I will be properly understo=
od, but it is my duty to write and reach out to you.
I am MR IRAGBOR MIKE, an accountant with UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC. The b=
usiness I am about to introduce you is based on sheer trust and with a Se=
nse of purpose. I am contacting you toassist in repatriating the sum of $=
20.5M The money and property left behind by ENGR. BOWEN HARROLD who had a=
n accident on the 21st of April 2001, ENGR. BOWEN HARROLD, his wife and t=
heir two Children were involved in a car accident in a remote village cal=
led Kuru near Jos in Plateau State. All occupants of the car unfortunatel=
y lost their lives.
Since then I have made several enquiries to his embassy here in Lagos-Nig=
eria to locate any of ENGR. BOWEN HARROLD'S extended relatives, this has =
also proved unsuccessful even to locate any member of his family hence I =
contacted you as his account officer to work with you before they get his=
account confiscated, frozen or declared unserviceable by the bank where =
these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the UNION BANK OF NIG. PLC=
, where the deceased had an account valued at about (US$20.5M) Twenty Mil=
liom, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. Now the management has=
issued a notice to provide the next of kin or have theaccount frozen. Si=
nce I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years n=
ow, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased=
since you are a foreigner so that the proceeds of this account valued at=
$20.5 M, can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money.

60% to me and 35% to you, while 5% will be mapped out for any miscellaneo=
us expenses that might be incurred in the course of this transaction. I h=
ave made an arrangement with an attorney who will work for us and secure =
all the necessary legal documents to back up this claim, and this I must =
do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or end up in the wrong hands=
. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us secure all the l=
egal documents and see this deal through. I guarantee you that this trans=
action will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect =
you and I from any breach of the law.
If you are interested in this deal, kingly get backto me through email wi=
th your complete information as follows: Telephone and Fax numbers, your =
home address and Full name.
Best regards,
MR IRAGBOR MIKE
www.islammemo.cc all about islam

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam