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 message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- prof.immanuel@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From:
=?UTF-8?Q?=E2=80=AAProf=2E_Immanuel_Okonkwor=E2=80=AC_=E2=80=AA?= <mdgn0q@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2015 23:49:01 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN!

Â Greetings,

Thank you very much for taking your time to read this message, I wish you will believe me after perusing the content of this message; you honestly do not know me and it is very hard to believe someone you never met in life. Anyway, I have decided to utilize this opportunity to discuss family relationship with you. Africa is the worst continent on Earth where the mind of politicians, governance & individuals are polluted with greed; nothings seems to work well in Africa because of corruption even the anti-crime agencies are corrupt. The upcoming political dispensation in February 2015 will be bloody in this nation (Nigeria), which is the worst of all nations in Africa where governance are after making money not considering indigenous standard of living.

My plans are to have my children grow-up in a conducive environment and establish my business in a country with good economic stability, I strongly believe that your country is my idea nation to train my children and as well establish good investment. I have worked out the technicalities to commence an operation which requires your partnership as a citizen, my investment funds has been moved to your continent and this partnership will benefit you greatly. Further information will be detailed to you upon receipt of your humane anticipated response.

Happy New Year in Advance,

Prof. Immanuel Okonkwor
Financial Control Officer of Stanbic IBTC
E-mail: prof.immanuel@accountant.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam