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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: "Dr. Labi Donald." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <uusnnd@yahoo.ie>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2014 10:53:21 -0800
Subject: Re: BUSINESS DEAL TO OUR BENEFIT.

Dr. Labi Donald.
Principal Accountant,
Federal Ministry of Aviation
Dear Good Friend,
I hope this mail will reach you in the best of health and business conditions and receive the most desired attention from you even as we have not had any previous correspondence before.
 
I am constrained by insufficient information about you to express in full the main objectives of this proposal. However, kindly get back to me immediately for details should be given you if you agree to its content.
I am the Principal Accountant with Federal Ministry of Aviation. I am also the chairman of contract award committee in this same Aviation industry. My colleagues and I put ideas together and decided to look for a foreign national who would assist us to receive the sum of US$23.8 million to be shared for our own use.
Importantly, be informed that this sum originated from a capital project the Federal Ministry of Aviation,initially contracted to a foreign firm in 2007. The contract in question had since been executed  and the main contract sum had been paid to the contractors while the above sum is being considered and treated on our accounting records as amount outstanding (due unpaid). Only my colleagues and I are aware of the origin of this money. We therefore  decided to transfer it abroad since we can not withdraw it here in Nigeria. Recently the board of directors has recommended that this sum be paid this quarter and that is why we want to use your name with bank particulars to wire the money into your bank  account.
In view of this, we want to assure you that there will be no risks especially on your side. Your interest will be protected adequately. We are aware that this fund would suffer value added tax (vat) both in Nigeria and in your country.We have made a provision to cover for the vat in Nigeria.
Finally, for your services in this DEAL, we resolved that you would receive 30% of the total fund when transferred. 65% will be for us while 5% shall be used to off-set all expenses to be incurred in Nigeria and in your county. Also this transaction is expected to last 10 working days. In addition, we would like you to keep this business top secret till we realize our dream. In addition to the bank account we are requesting, we shall be grateful to have your personal telephone and fax numbers for this business.
My dear, on behalf of my colleagues, we look forward to receiving your acceptance reply. Please reply me, furnishing me with the following information's for onward procession of approval documents on your behalf;
 
(1) Your Private: Tel & Fax Number
(2) Your Account: Number
(3) Your Account: Name
(4) Your Bank: Address
(5) Your Bank: Name
(6) Your Passport
(7) Your age and occupation
 
 
I thank you for your acceptance in advance.
 
Best regards,
Dr.Labi Donald.
Principal Accountant
Federal Ministry of Aviation.

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