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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "traore keita" <traorekeita@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 01:21:47 +0000
Subject: INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP FROM TRAORE KEITA.


DEAR MANAGER/DIRECTOR,

I KNOW THIS PROPOSAL LETTER MIGHT BE A PLEASANT SUPRISE TO YOU AS WE DON'T
KNOW OUR SELVES BEFORE. I AM MR.TRAORE KEITA, FROM IVORY-COAST,NOW SEEKING
ASSYLUM IN DAKAR-SENEGAL UNDER (UNHCR).
I CONTACTED YOU AS A CAUSE OF MY SERIOUS SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND
TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN HANDLE SUCH A CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION OF THIS
NATURE.

MY FATHER (LATE) DR.MUSA TRAORE, THE FORMER INCUMBENT DIRECTOR OF THE
FINANCE MINISTRY IN IVORY-COAST,BUT WAS ASSASINATED BY THE REBELS DURING THE
CIVIL WAR AND PROPERTIES DESTROYED,BUT I AND MY AGED MOTHER NARROWLY ESCAPED
WITH SOME VERY IMPORTANT
DOCUMENT OF (US$12.5M) TWELVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND (US)DOLLARS
DEPOSITED BY MY LATE FATHER IN A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN LONDON ENGLAND,
UNDER MY NAME AS NEXT OF KIN. HOWEVER,WE ARE SADDLED WITH THE PROBLEM OF
SECURING A TRUST WORTHY FOREIGN PERSONALITY TO HELP US TRANSFER THIS MONEY
PENDING OUR ARRIVAL TO MEET WITH YOU.FURTHERMORE,WE ONLY WANT THIS TO BE
DONE THIS WAY BECAUSE YOUR COUNTRY IS POLITICALLY STABLE FOR ANY PROFITABLE
INVESTMENT AND WE ALSO WANT TO ADD HERE THAT IF ACCEPTED BY YOU,YOU WILL
REPRESENT US AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF THE DEPOSIT.

WE FEEL CONFIDENCE THEREFORE,TO INTRODUCE THIS OFFER TO YOU. FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION AND ALL YOUR ASSISTANCE REGARDING THIS TRANSFER,WE HAVE
DECIDED TO GIVE YOU 15 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MONEY.THEREFORE,YOU ARE
REQUESTED TO REPLY BACK IMMEDIATELY YOU RECIEVE THIS REQUEST TO TRANSFER
THIS MONEY FROM DAKAR SENEGAL
TO YOUR COUNTRY. ON COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSACTION I WANT TO LET YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUTURE OF MYSELF AND MOTHER DEPENDS SOLELY ON THIS
MONEY. SO PLEASE KEEP THIS BUSINESS TO YOURSELF ONLY TO AVOID ANY EXPOSURE
TO ANY THIRD PARTY.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

YOUR'S TRULY,


TRAORE KEITA.

_________________________________________________________________
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