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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: "FAITH RICHARD" <rich_faith@she.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: rich_faith@she.cpom
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 22:38:53 +0700
Subject: ATTENTION FOR AN URGENT MATTER

FROM: FAITH RICHARD,
BANGKOK THAILAND,
SIR,
I AM RICHARD FAITH ,AGED 25 YEARS OLD, A CITIZEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. MY FATHER WAS THE CHIARMAN OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD MINE CORPORATION FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL NOVERBER 3RD 2004 WHEN HE RETIRED FROM SERVICE.AFTER HIS RETIREMENT, HE CALlED ME ASIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE EXECUTED A SECRET GOLD DEALS WORTH USD 9. MILLION DOLLARS WHILE HE WAS STILL AT THE GOLD MINE CORPORATION. HE FURTHER SAID THAT THE CASH SAVE CONTAINING THE MONEY HAS BEING DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN BANGKOK THAILAND,THAT ALL THE FAMILY WILL BE MOVING TO THAILAND BY DECEMBER AS TO ENABLE HIM RELEASE THE MONEY FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR INVESTMENTS. ON THE DECEMBER 24TH 2004 MY FATHER TOOK ME, MY MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS TO BANGKOK,THAILAND AS HE ALREADY PLANNED.
AS SOON AS WE ARRIVED TO BANGKOK, HE SAID THAT WE SHALL BE GOING TO PHUCKET CITY FOR SIGHT SEEING,LUCKILY FOR ME I TOLD HIM THAT I WILL STAY BACK IN BANGKOK SINCE I DO NOT FEEL LIKE GOING FOR SIGHT SEEING. HE AGREED WITH ME AND MOVED FOR PHUCKET WITH MY MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS WHILE I STAYED BACK IN OUR HOTEL ROOM IN BANGKOK. I NEVER KNEW THAT I WILL NEVER SEE MY FAMILY ANY MORE. MY FATHER INCLUDING MY MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS WAS CONSUMED BY THE TSUNAMI TRAGEDY.
LIFE WAS MEANINGLESS TO ME WHEN I HEARD THE SAD NEWS. MY FAMILY VANISHED SINCE THAT DAY TILL NOW ,THEY ARE NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.
SIR, ALL I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME IS TO COME TO BANGKOK AND ASSIST ME CLEAR THE SAVE BOX CONTAINING THE USD 9.MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND THEN MOVE THE FUNDS OUT OF THAILAND TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR A PROFITABLE BUSINESS. DUE TO MY AGE, ALOT OF QUESTIONS WILL ARRISE IF I AM BEING SEEN WITH SUCH A HUGH SUM OF MONEY,THAT IS WHY I NEED YOU TO ACT AS MY FATHER'S BUSINESS PARTNER AS TO USE YOUR PARTICULARS TO OPEN A NON RESIDENT BANK ACCOUNT IN ANY OF THE LOCAL BANKS HERE WHERE WE SHALL PAY IN THE MONEY FOR ONWARD TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY. I WILL GIVE YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, 5% WILL BE USED TO REPAY ANY EXPENSES INCURED EITHER BY YOU OR ME DURING THE PROCESS OF THIS BUSINESS.WHILE 65% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY INVESTMENTS WHICH WILL ALSO BE UNDER YOUR KIND CONTROL.
BEFORE MY FATHER'S DEATH, HE WARNED ME TO KEEP THIS BUSINESS TOP SECRET.SO PLEASE DO MAINTAIN THE SECRECY OF THIS BUSINESS.
YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT rich_faith25@yahoo.com FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION.
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
THANKS.
RICHARD FAITH




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