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:

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.
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. ROBERT WILLAIMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertwillaims@financier.com>
Date: Mon, 25 May 2015 12:21:31 +0200
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?=7BSpam=20Detected=20By=20Fortinet=7D?=
=========URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR THIS DEAL++++

MR ROBERT WILLAIMS
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT,
JHN RESERVE BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA

I am a banker by profession from Reserve bank of South Africa and currently working in the Auditing and Accounting unit of the bank. I have the opportunity of transferring the left over funds ($9 million USD) of one of my bank clients late Mr. Christian Eich who died along with his entire family on 31 July 2000 in a plane crash. The fund for transfer is of clean origin. You can confirm the geniuses of the deceased death by clicking on this web site.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 50/40 while 10% will be mapped out for expenses after the fund has been transfer into your bank account. If you agree to my business proposal i require you to send me your personal information’s such as your full name, your telephone number, your occupation, your full home address, and your scanned photograph, immediately i receive those datas, i will forward the details of the transfer and the application of claim to you which you will fill and send to the bank for the claim .have a great day.
Your Faithfully
Mr. Robert Williams
NB, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS YOUR TOP SECRECT AND MAKE IT CONFIDENTIAL TILL WE RECEIVES THE FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam