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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: "Joseph Mayah" <jo_mayah@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 09:11:24 +0100
Subject: GOLD AU DUST FOR SALE !

GREETINGS,
MY NAME IS MR JOSEPH MAYAH.
THE LOCAL MINERS CORPORATIONS AGENT AND CONSULTANT IN WEST AFRICA.
WE HAVE QUANTITIES OF GOLD DUST FOR SALE.
GOLD AU DUST AND BARS OF 22 KARRATS +.
THE PRICE IS BETTER THAN THE PRICE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETINGS.
QUANTITY: 580 KGMS DUST ALLUVIAL.
PRICE :$5,500 PER 1KG.
PAYMENT TERMS.
BUYER WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENGS TO TRAVEL DOWN TO INSPECT THE PRODUCTS.
BUYER PAY THE SELLER AFTER THE AU DUST HAS BEEN ASSAYED,AND SMELTED INTO PURE GOLD AT THE
REFINARY,OR AS REACHED ON AGREEMENT BY BOTH PARTIES.
THEN THE GOODS WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO THE PORT OF DELIVERY OF BUYER'S OWN CHOICE.
BUYER,ALLOWS TO COME WITH HIS TESTING EQUIPMENTS.
NOTE:THE QUANTITY CAN BE CHANGED AS DAYS GOES BY.WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
THE ADEQUATE INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN UPON YOUR RETURN MAIL.
THANKS.
MR JOSEPH MAYAH.


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