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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "John Clarice" <johnkoffi02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: johnkoffi1964@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:58:34 +0000
Subject: REQUEST FOR NEXT OF KIN.

DEAR PARTNER,

I AM SEEKING FOR YOUR COOPERATION TO PRESENT YOU TO BANK AS THE NEXT OF KIN
TO ENGR. HAROD BOWEN, A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR WITH NATIONAL PETROLEUM
COOPERATION SO THAT THE SUM OF $14MILLION USD WILL BE PAY TO YOU AS THE
BENEFICIARY. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF AUDITING AND
ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT WITH BANK OF AFRICA. SINCE AFTER HIS DEATH ON 5/1/03
NONE OF HIS RELATIVES HAVE COME FOR THE CLAIM THAT IS THE MAIN REASON I AM
WRITING YOU THIS AND I ASK FOR YOUR COOPEARATION FOR US TO CLAIM THIS MONEY,
SINCE YOU ARE A FOREIGNER.

I ONLY HAVE TO APPROVE YOU THE NEXT OF KIN WITH THE INFORMATION I GATHERED
FROM THE BANK SECRET FILE DISKETTE TO ENABLE US ACHIEVE OUR AIM, THIS FUND
WILL BE PAY TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY. WE ARE TO SHARE THIS MONEY BETWEEN US
(I AND YOU) IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS OFFER YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME
IMMEDIATELY FOR DETAIL OF THE TRANSACTION AND PRECEDURE. PLS DO FORWARD ME
YOUR FULL NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE AND FAX NUMBER, YOUR COMPANY NAME OR
OCCUPATION, THIS INFO IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION.

NOTE: THIS IS RISK FREE BUSINESS, THIS TRANSACTION WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY
YOU DECLARE YOUR WILLINGNESS.

YOURS TRUELY,
MR. JOHN KOFFI.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources: