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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: Michal Soul <czx_1983@att.net>
Reply-To: k_mekp@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 13:49:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello




MICHAL SOUL & ASOCIADOS
Abogados (Attorney)
Alfonso, 190, 90 Da 26019 Madrid España
From
Barr. Michal Soul,
Date: 6/05/2010

I am Barrister. Michal Soul, I am the personal attorney to Engineer. J.O your family member with the same surname as yours, a Contractor and have spent most of his life in this country (SPAIN) he was my client. On the 11TH of March 2006, my client, his wife and their only son were involved in a car accident along Barcelona Auto High way .
Unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of his extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name, to locate any Member of his family hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the assets and Capital cash valued at (US$78. 5M ) seventy eight million five hundred thousand United state dollars) left behind by my late client before they get confiscate or declared unserviceable by the ( Bank ) Banco BBVA Madrid Spain where the deposit is lodged. The Banco BBVA, has issued me a notice because am his consultant to provide the next of Kin or have the account confiscate within the next thirty Official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the Next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the modalities / sharing ratio, and transfer of the fund to your bank account. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back up this claim.
All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law.


Awaiting your urgent response

Sincerely yours,

Michal Soul,
( Attorney )

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