419 scam: test@test.com Dear Friend !!!

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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:

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)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: test@test.com
Reply-To: mr.nnamdiesoffice2014@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:09:33 -0600
Subject: Dear Friend !!!

>From The Desk Of Nnamdi j Okonkwo
fidelity bank plc
2 Kofo Abayomi St, Lagos 101241

Dear Friend,

I am an Accountant with the fidelity bank plc My name is Mr.nnamdi j.
okonkwo.I am the personal Account Manager to Late Engr.Williams,who is a
citizen of your country ,who used to work with an Oil Development company
in Nigeria.NNPC(NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM COMPANY)here in after shall be
referred to as my client On April 21,2011, my client,his wife,and their
three children were involved in a car accident along Lagos Sagamu Express
Road,Lagos Nigeria.

All occupants in the car unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have
made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients
extended Relatives, this has also proved abortive, after several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace name over the Internet, to
locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating of the funds 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 fidelity bank PIC. Where the deceased had
an account Valued at about ($14 million u s dollars)The bank 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 relatives for over 3years
now,I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
deceased,so that we can proceed on the closure of this account valued
at($14 million US dollars)and will be paid to you and then you and me Can
share the money 50% to me and 45% to you and 5% for any expenditure made
during the repatriating of the fund into your account,An attorney will be
contracted to help re-validated and notarize all the necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest co-operation 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.
Enclose your private telephone number for easy communication.

You can reach me via :

I await your response

Best Regards
Mr.Nnamdi j. Okonkwo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam