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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united state 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348146367476

Fraud email example:

From: "First Bank Plc" <dennisdike@darkmark.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:15:38 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,
Respond now Mr. Jerome E. Cassell want to claim your fund

Dear Beneficiary,

We received a LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION from one Mr. Jerome E. Cassell,
stating that you are hospitalized.

Therefore you have given him the AUTHORIZATION to claim your approve fund
of US$5,000,000.00 (Five Million United State Dollars) on your behalf.
Please kindly confirm to us if you are the one who instructed Mr Jerome E.
Cassell to claim your fund on your behalf.

Because the Bank Management instructed that I should contact you first
before the AUTHORIZATION LETTER will be sign for the release of your fund
to Mr Jerome E. Cassell, please Itâ€™s very important you respond back
immediately you receive this mail to avoid confusion, because the Bank
Management insisted to accept the AUTHORIZATION LETTER from Mr Jerome E.
Cassell due to a lot of fraud activities going on worldwide.

Thanks for Your Cooperation.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Dennis Dike
Unit Director Fund Processing Department.
First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
Address. Samuel Asabia House 35 Marina
P.O. Box 5216
Call: +2348146367476

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam