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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: "Mr David Ford" <david@familyrepresentative.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:26:45 +0000
Subject: PLEA FOR HELP.

From The Desk Of,
Mr.David Ford,
London,
United Kingdom
E-mail: david_ford007@indiatimes.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

In appreciation of your esteemed contact received through a reliable source
and the choice of your country. I wish to introduce myself. My name is
Mr.David Ford, the son of Mr.Terry Ford of Zimbabwe. During the current
crisis
against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert
Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the
white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their
followers. You can view websites:


http://www.thefarmer.co.zw/main.htm
http://www.dogsinthenews.com/issues/0203/articles/020319a.htm

My Father was one of the best farmers in the country and knowing that he did
not support the President political ideology, the president supporters
invaded
my father's farm and burnt down everything, killed him and confiscated all
his
investments. Before this unpleasant incident, my mother and Terry had
already
visited South Africa to deposit the sum of Twenty five Million US Dollars
(US$25,000,000.00) in a safe diplomatic vault in South Africa. After the
bloody incident, we all had to escape to London for the safety of our
lives .Where we have been living since then as political refugee. I am
seeking
for a reliable foreigner who can assist us in moving this funds out for safe
banking and profitable investment.Honestly I contacted you because I don't
want to invest this funds in London due to my status her as a political
refugee and moreover I don't want to take risk because this funds is all
that
I and my mother are depending on.

We are seriously looking for a trusted partner that will assist us with the
convenient and legal transfer of the funds out of South Africa. Your help
will
be appreciated with 25% of the total of the total fund while 5% of the total
will be set aside to cover any expenses incurred during this transaction.
And
70% will be for my family. we will be happy if you can be able to invest our
share in your country under your supervision. I would appreciate
confidentiality and honesty in our correspondence. Your immediate response
will be highly welcome I hope to hear from you soon.


Please include your phone and fax number in your response for better
communication.

God bless you and your family.

Mr. David Ford
For The Family

Note: Kindly reply to my private e-mail address:
david_ford007@indiatimes.com


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