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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • ahmed_dangote1951@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ahmed dangote" <xifer12@livedoor.com>
Reply-To: ahmed_dangote1951@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:18:29 +0100
Subject: URGENT MAIL


>From Mr. Ahmed Dangote,
Equitorial Trust Bank Plc,
Victoria Islands,
Lagos- Nigeria
Email: ahmed_dangote1951@yahoo.com.hk

Dear Friend,

I am Mr.
Ahmed Dangote the director in charge of auditing and accounting section
of Equitorial Trust Bank Plc (ETB) with due respect and regard, I have
decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very
beneficial to both of us at that end of the transaction in order to
transfer out the sum of (US$16.311million) sixteen million three
hundred and eleven thousand united state dollars from one of the
leading banks in Nigeria Equitorial Trust Bank Plc into a foreign
account provided.

I need a foreign reliable and honest person who is
capable and fit to receive this money through a bank to bank wire
transfer during the course of out auditing last month, I discovered a
floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 2000 and since 2003
nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old
files I discovered that the owner of the account did not state any next
of kin, hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money
out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing by our management.

The owner of this account is one Engr. Renold, A foreigner and an
industrialist, and no other person knows about this account or any
thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my
investigation proved to me to be perfect and risk free however. I am
revealing this to you believing in God that you will never let me down
when the funds are transferred into your foreign nominated bank
account. At the conclusion of this business, I will give to you 40% of
the total amount while 55% will be for me and 5% percent will be used
for any expenses we might run into during the processing of the funds
transfer.Kindly send to me your full name,telephone,mobile and fax
numbers as well as your resident or company address for easy
communication.

Am looking forward to hearing from you,

Best regards,

Mr. Ahmed Dangote,
Equitorial Trust Bank Plc.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam