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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Fiath Gu" <"wwwww.ww."@orange.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Fiath Gu" <gu.kailiaii@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 10 May 2017 19:40:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: If this proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to
contact me immediately.

Dear

I am contacting you for a business transfer of a huge sum of money from a deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that every document that will bring about the success of this transaction will be provided by an attorney here, and all will be well at the end of the day.

I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction and want you to stand as the next of Kin to this fund {Nine million three hundred and seventy five thousand euro only}. The deceased died in air crash along with his wife in a German airline with other passengers on board was an American Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation, if you have accepted to work with me, you are advised to send me your details for documentation

1. Full names and address,
2. Telephone and fax Number.
3. Occupation
4. A scan copy of your international passport or driver$B!G(Bs license.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to contact me immediately. Do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you, I await your urgent mail now to my private email ID

Best Regards,
Mr. William Parker.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam