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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "PRINCE MARTINS" <princemartinskamara@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 11:20:57 +0000
Subject: INQUIRE OF YOUR SERVICES - Prince Martins

From PRINCE MARTINS
Email: princemartinskamara@yahoo.com

Dear,

I wish to inquire of your services to be my foreign partner / investor
and support me to transfer and manage my funds by investing in profit
making ventures like buying of company shares or Real Estate Investment
Trust funds in your country. The recent growth of your country Economy
and Trade activities impressed me, having thought of how greater the
market will look in the next 10-20 years.

I am Mr.Prince Martins, the only son of late Chief. Edward K. Martins.
I am a citizen of Sierra Leone, a native of mende district in the
Northern province of Sierra .Leone, and was born in May 22nd 1984. My
father, was a great Farmer and cocoa merchant in Issia the South province of Cote d'ivoire(Ivory Cost) when he was alive, Last year he was poisoned by his business associates which he surffered and died, He willed me this sum Seventeen Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$17,300,000.00) which he deposited for safe custody in a Security Company in Abidjan the capital city of cote d'ivoire(Ivory Cost).

The funds in question are in cash and it was packed in a trunk box and
deposited as Personal Effect in Security Firm called MAGNUM SECURITY
COMPANY in my father's name. I humbly solicit your assistance to claim
this fund from the Security Company and transfer it to your country
investment purpose, and help me to relocate to your country and have a
better future since the Africa environment is not favorable to me.

Most importantly. The whole documents issued after deposit are in my
custody as the next of kin, For your assistance. I beg to concede 25% of
this money to you for your efforts assistance.

Best regards.

Mr.Prince Martins.


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