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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: "Thomas Baker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomas-baker@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:35:33 -0800
Subject: Reply.

Dear Friend,

This proposal is confidentially mailed to you for your kind consideration and cooperation.

I am Thomas Baker, Attorney and secretary to my late deceased client of Gulf Stream crude oil. Prior to his unexpected death in August 2006, he deposited $17

Million USD in a fixed deposit account for a pending investment oversea. Eventually, he died in a plane crash and since his death nobody has applied for the

claims of his estate as the next of kin.

I have personally monitored and managed the deposit over the years, and all effort to reach other members of his family has been futile. Since there is no

one else claim this money I now solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has been concluded by me. I am only

waiting for a foreigner to take possession of the deposit. There is no risk attached to it as the entire document required for claims will be obtained

legally by me as his proxy.

I cannot make claim to the deposit in my name hence this contact, to ask your support. As proxy, I will donate you as next of kin and back-up your claims as

legal next of kin with the relevant documentation. Once the bank sees your application the estate of my late client will be released to you for you and I to

share as partners. I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and I will forward details of this project and more information about

the proposed course of action for getting these funds to you 100% risk free.

To facilitate a rather more secured link with you, kindly indulge me with the following:

1). Full Names, sex and Address
2). Telephone, Fax and Cell phone numbers.

This project is ready for execution as soon as I hear from you. I look forward to your swift response to this letter.

Sincerely Yours.
Thomas Baker
Principal Partner (Thomas Baker & Associates)

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