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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: "OFFICE MAIL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <raysmith1002@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:27:34 -0500
Subject: REQUEST IN ESTATE

Good-day,
 
I am Raymond smith a representative of Prudential Insurance PLC based in the United Kingdom. Actually, this correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such. I am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that will be attached to this deal for the benefit of both of us. The Management and the Legal/ Treasury Department of this Prudential Insurance in a recent meeting, recommended that the Insurance Contract of Mr. Mark Ginsberg, who maintained a Life Insurance Policy, should be declared Dormant and confiscated hence moving his unclaimed estate to the Treasury.
 
I came across a very vast sum of money belonging to the above deceased Policy Holder (Mr. Mark Ginsberg). This man was our client and has a Life Insurance
Policy WORTH the sum of EIGHT MILLION THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY BRITISH POUND STERLING (8.370,000 British pounds Sterling (BPS) which is currently deposited in our TRADING COMPANY (security company) in a two trunk metallic boxes. Right now, the fund is lying unclaimed in our custody TRADING COMPANY (Security Company) and there is no next of kin mentioned in his file and there is no how we can reach any of his other relatives. All efforts made by us to establish contacts with any other of his relation have proved abortive and unsuccessful. His Life Insurance Policy will expire in the next few months from the date of this letter. Just a few weeks back, we received an instruction from Ministry of Social Welfare to forward particulars of all unclaimed benefits that will expire in the next few months.
 
Upon my personal finding on this matter, I kept this information secret to myself until now that I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the deceased customer was foreigners (from different country), it is Officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will pose as his next-of-kin. I will use my position in this Company to present you as his Next of Kin as you can be his relative, friend or Cousin or even his business associate if you so choose and the left behind estates (8.370,000 British pounds Sterling (BPS) will be Safely transferred to you in your country legally. Please include your telephone/fax number/ Home Address when replying this e-mail and I will give you more information as soon as you indicate your willingness to assist in this viable transaction. Please provide the following:
 
Full Name:
Full Address:
Home and Direct Cell Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Company Name:
Company Address:
Position:
Occupation:
Sex:
Marriage Status:
Age:
Next of Kin:
Other Email:
 
I PROMISE that you must be happy and shall rejoice greatly soonest for cooperating with me in this transaction. After successful conclusion of this transaction I await your good response today.
 
Kind Regards,
Raymond Smith
Direct number 00 44 703 196 7201
 

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