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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: Christopher Douglas <christopherdgls4@ymail.com>
Reply-To: christopherdgls9@live.com
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:15:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Next Of Kin Needed


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: christopherdgls4@ymail.com



- Dear , Before I start, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you. I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to establishing a relationship, but you will realize the reason for my action after going through this email. My name is MR.CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS, I am the managing director of Citizens Trust Bank Plc of Nigeria.I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank (ANTHONY A MOORE of your country) who had a plane crash and died on 4th of May 2002 in a local plane crash at Kano State, which enrooted from sokoto to Abuja (the capital city of Nigeria), all occupants in the Plane lost their lives, unfortunately on this same flight were otherdignitaries like the former Nigeria Sports Minister and a host of others. There is an account opened in my bank in the year 2001 by this great late INDUSTRIALIST/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR who died without a written or oral WILL attatched to the account. Since his death ,I have personally watched !
and waiting with keen interest to see the next of kin but no one has come or show-up to be his next of kin to claim his fund, and no other person knows about this account or anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and until his death and he was also the manager of his company. The banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than few year without claim,hence the money wil be recalled to the Gorvernment treasury as unclaimed after this long period of domancy. It is in light of these development that I am compelled to seek your indulgence and active participation in a well thought out scheme for you to act as the NEXT OF KIN and foreign beneficiary of the fund from the deceased,since no one has come up to be the next of KIN. The total amount involved is $US26.5 Million (US DOLLARS). I wish to start the first transfer with half of the total fund and upon successful transaction without any disappointment from your side, you shall re-apply for !
the transfer of the remaining balance into your account. Should my pro
posal apeal to you,and upon the receipt of your reply, I can obtain and manipulate all vital document neccessary for a sucessful transfer of the fund into your bank account.I will also send you a detailed information about the transaction. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is 100% risk free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized within 14 banking days, after you apply to the bank as the beneficiary of the fund from the deceased. I look forward to your quick response.Let trust and honesty be our watchward. Best Regards.Mr. Christopher Douglas.


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