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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: Koto Oboko <kotooboko4@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 14:07:44 +0000
Subject: Attention: Sir/Madam

Attention: Sir/Madam
I am contacting you based on a transfer of funds from a deceased
account here in the Bank which I work as an accountant. Though, I know
that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive
and worried, but I am assuring you that all arrangements will be
legally done.I discovered an abandoned sum of USD8.5 M (Eight Million
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in an account that
belongs to our foreign customer (late) who died along with his entire
family and I noticed you both bear the same Surname.The funds cannot
be released from his account unless someone applies for claims as the
next-of-kin/beneficiary to the deceased as indicated in our banking
guidelines. I now seek your permission to have you stand as next of
kin/beneficiary to the deceased . Please furnish me with the
following if you are interested;
1. Beneficiary Name and Present Contact Address.
2. Direct Telephone, Fax and Mobile Number.
3. Date of Birth and Occupation
This information will enable us file a letter of claims to the
appropriate departments for necessary approval documents in your favor
before the transfer can be made.
I await your urgent respond
Regards,
Mr.Koto

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