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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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Fraud email example:

From: "GEORGE KENNETH" <georgeken1@post.cz> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 20:48:01 +0100
Subject: CONSIDER THIS AND GET BACK TO ME.

Dear Sir/Madam,
It is my pleasure contacting you now, as I have longed to get in touch with anybody who knew Mr.Micheal Mercer.
I am George Kenneth. an accountant with a security company.Micheal
Mercer who is a depositor with our security company died along with his family on the 01 FEB 1997 in a plane crash,the aircraft name is Hawker Siddeley HS-748-353 Srs.2A.This crash happened in Tambacounda (Senegal) in Africa,and the registration number of the aircraft is6AV-AEO.
Two years before this crash, Mr.Micheal Mercer,who is an oil prospector in the oil rich niger delta region,deposited the sum of thirteen million five hundred and twenty thousand dollars ($13.520,000usd),with our security company.this funds has remained unclaimed since the crash occured. Since then, there had not been any trace of claim from any person as the fund remains dormant in our security company ever since.
Although, I kept this information secret within my jurisdiction to enable me put claims and transfer the said amount through a
trustworthy friend overseas whom I shall give all information and guidance towards retrieving this funds as the next of kin, for a more useful and profitable project.
It is expected that the transaction will run for 12-13 working days,so your immeadiate reply is needed and interest highly indicated for proper procedures to commence.The ratio of sharing the funds shall be 35%-60%.then 5% shall be for expenses incured during transaction.
Your reply will be needed as to tell you, how to reach Mr.Micheal
Mercer's personal attourney for immediate court process.
Consider this and get back to me.
thanks for your co-operation
sincerly
George Kenneth




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