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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: "www.uniochambers.com" <unionpersonel2@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 07:43:00 -0500
Subject: GET BACK ASAP



Attn,

I am Attorney John Femi a solicitor at law of unionpersonel Chambers. I am
the personal attorney to Mr. Mark O. a national of your country, who used to
work with Shell - development company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be
referred to as my client.

On the 21st of February 2009, my client, his wife and their three children
were involved in a car accident along Patani express road. All occupants of
the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several
enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name
over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the finance
company where the deceased had an account valued at about USD$5.2 million
dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the the relatives for over 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued
at USD5.2 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the
money. 60% to me and 40% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can
be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my
email which is below, and send to me your Name In Full,Residential Address and
telephone numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction.

Best regards,
Attorney John Femi.
unionpersonel2@hotmail.com

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