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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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)
  • "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. )
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: nururib3@gmail.com
Reply-To: nururib2000@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 15:24:33 +0100
Subject: Reply Urgent


Dear Friend,

With warm heart I offer my greetings and also friendship, I hope this mail
meets you in good health. However it's strange and surprising this contact
might seem to you, because we have not met before either physically or
through correspondence. I humbly ask that you take due consideration of it's
importance and immense benefit.

I am Hon Dr Nuru Ribadu i, am bank branch manager (Zenith Bank).My bank have
a foreign customer who was a major Contractor with Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He runs and maintain a corporate dollar
account in my branch bank, and also resident in Nigeria. I am his account
custodian until the time he met his death through an auto accident in the
year 2004 along with his family.

I'm contacting you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by this customer before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this deposit was made. Particularly the
(Zenith Bank) where the deceased has an account valued at about 17.8 million
dollars. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, I now
seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased since you are from the same country with the deceased and also have
the same last name so that the Proceeds of this account valued at 17.8
million dollars will be paid to you. If you agree, we can discuss my
percentage.

I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us
seeing this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the
law. Your urgent response will be highly appreciated. Awaiting your
response.

Best regards,
Hon Dr Nuru Ribadu
Bank Branch Manager (Zenith Bank)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam