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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: kevin smith <kevin_stc29fm@msn.com>
Reply-To: <kevin_st99@yahoo.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 19:26:07 +0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION



FROM MR.KEVIN SMITH
NNPC FALOMO OFFICE COMPLEX
P.M.B.2701
LAGOS-NIGERIA

DEAR Sar/maam,


PERMISSION TO REMIT US$12 MILLION INTO YOUR COMPANY OR PRIVATE ACCOUNT. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WRITE AND INFORMYOU OF A TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF US12,000,000.00 TWELVE MILLION U.S. DOLLAR ONLY) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR SAFEKEEPING PENDING MY ARRIVAL FOR THE SHARING WITH YOU AS THE ACCOUNT OWNER INTO WHICH THE MONEY IS REMITTED.

I AM MR.KEVIN SMITH,CHAIRMAN TENDER BOARD COMMITTEE WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION(NNPC),OUR DUTIES INCLUDE EVALUATION AND AWARDS OF CONTRACT. THIS MONEY ORIGINATED FROM OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT EXECUTED FOR THE CORPORATION SOME YEARS BACK. THIS CONTRACT HAS LONG BEEN COMPLETED BY A FOREIGN FIRM AND THE CONTRACTOR DULY PAID.

I NOW SEEK IF YOU WOULD PERMIT THE SURPLUS TO BE REMITTED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WE CANNOT AQUIRE THIS MONEY IN OUR NAME,BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT WHILE IN SERVICE.

THIS IS WHY I AM LOOKING FOR A COMPETENT AND HONEST COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL ABROAD INTO WHOSE ACCOUNT THE SUM OF USD12,000,000.00 TWELVE MILLION U.S. DOLLAR ONLY) WILL BE PAID INTO BY TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER.HENCE I AM CONTACTING YOU.

HOWEVER, I WOULD WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR PERSONAL ASSURANCE THAT YOU WOULD NOT BETRAY ME AFTER THE FUND MUST HAVE ARRIVED YOUR ACCOUNT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU ARE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION CONFIDENTIAL,IN ORDER NOT TO TARNISH THE CONFIDENCE REPOSED ON ME AND THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THIS TRANSACTION. YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 40% OF THIS MONEY AFTER THE TRANSACTION,WHILE 60% WILL BE FOR THE OFFICIALS.

EVERY ARRANGEMENT TOWARDS THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSACTION HAS BEEN CONCLUDED.PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS 100% SAFE AND RISK FREE AND I HOPE THAT THE FUND ARRIVES YOUR ACCOUNT IN LATEST 10 BANKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FOLOWING INFORMATIONs.

1. YOUR NAME IN FULL
2. RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
3. DATE OF BIRTH(AGE)
4. CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.

THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL ENABLE ME APPLY FOR THE PAYMENT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
BE INFORMED THAT ON COMPLETION OF THIS BUSINESS I WILL TRAVEL DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT AND I WILL USE PART OF MY MONEY TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY UNDER YOUR CARE.
MY DEEPEST PRAYERS FOR YOU.

BEST REGARDS,

MR.KEVIN SMITH

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