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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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. EDWARD GINIKA" <martinsumeh@live.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2008 07:21:44 -0400
Subject: Dear Friend,







Dear Friend,

Having obtained your contact from the internet that you deserve trust, coupled with my deep interest to invest in your country, I decided to contact and solicit your mutual assistance at all cost. I am Dr. Edward Ginika Branch Manager, Zenith International Bank PLC Nigeria. On January 6th 2000, one Mr. Ahmed Raffi a consultant/contractor with Gardiner & Theobald,a leading firm of project and cost management consultants, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit,valued at , £9,500,000.00(Nine Million,Five Hundred Thousand Pounds) for twelve calender months in my Bank Branch.


Upon Maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers (Gardiner & Theobald) that Mr. Ahmed Raffi died from an automobile accident. On further investigations, it was discovered that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

On further investigations, it was discovered that Late Mr. Ahmed Raffi did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work here at the Bank. The total sum, £9,500,000.00 is still in my bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. In accordance with the Federal banking Laws and constitution, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim the funds.
Consequently, I shall present you as a foreign partner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Ahmed Raffi so that you and I can benefit from the fruits of this old man's labour.

Upon acceptance of this proposal, I shall send to you the Zenith "Next of Kin Payment Application Form" as well as detailed information on how this deal would be transacted. We shall employ the services of a solicitor for the drafting of the LAST WILL & TESTAMENT of Late Mr. Ahmed Raffi and to obtain all other relevant papers in your name for the
necessary documentations for payment approval in my bank headquarters in your favour.

The money will be shared in the ratio:50:45:5 fifty percent for you, forty five percent for Me and five percent for any arising contigencies during the course of this transaction.

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law as I will use my position as the Bank's Branch Manager to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. If this interests you, please reply me
immediately via the private email address below and please include your private telephone number for voice contact and fax number so I can provide you with more details for this transaction.

To actualize this arrangement, from your side as a partner I will
require the following details:

NAME IN FULL.
ADDRESS IN FULL.
YOUR MOBILE NUMBER.
AGE.
MARITAL STATUS
NATURE OF JOB.

Send your reply to this private email address:

Email: dr.edward.ginika@live.com

awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks.

Best regards,
Dr. Edward Ginika

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam