419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "% will be for you" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- drmustafasalaam504@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Mustafa Salaam" <drmustafasalaam_579@msn.com>
Reply-To: <drmustafasalaam504@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2012 14:41:19 +0000
Subject: Pls I look forward to your vital answer if truly you are fascinated
ok.

FROM DR. MUSTAFA SALAAM
AUDIT AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER
BANK OF AFRICA BOA.
OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO
WEST AFRICA
Email; drmustafasalaam504@gmail.com

Dear Friend,

I am Dr. Mustafa Salaam, the Head of Audit and Accounting dept, holding the post of foreign and local inheritance funds in BANK OF AFRICA. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. I discovered existing dormant account for over 11 years. When I discovered that there had been neither continuation nor withdrawals from this account for this long period and our banking laws stipulates that any unserviceable account for more than 5years will go into the bank revenue as an unclaimed fund.

I have made personal inquiries about the depositor and his next of kin but sadly, the depositor and his next of kin died on their way to business trip, and he left no body behind for this claim, I only made this investigation just to be double sure of this fact and since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives information concerning this fund, I seek your concern for further assistance to stand as the real next of kin to the deceased person so that our bank will release the fund on your behalf.

Amount to claim ($22.5 MILLION US DOLLARS.) TWENTY TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS.

Now my questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project? ……………
2. Can I give you this trust? ………………

If yes, call me and send to me your personal information as below:

Your full names :....................
Your address:...................
Your City/ country:.............
Your occupation:................
Your Sex/ age:..................
Your religion:..................
Your identity.................
Telephone numbers...............

This information is necessary,

Upon the receipt of your reply, I will give you the full details on how the business will be executed and also note that you will have 40% of the above mentioned sum as your own share while 50% will be for me, the remaining 10% will be for you to pay back for any expenses you made during the transaction. I am expecting your urgent response to enable me inform you on how the business will be executed. Please keep this proposal as a top secret or delete if you are not interested,

Kindly get back to me via this email address [drmustafasalaam504@gmail.com] for security purpose or call me for further discussion on the issue ok.

Yours Faithfully
Dr. Mustafa Salaam
+226 75535981.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam