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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: Terry Frank <terryfrank12@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <terry.frank2001@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 10:58:00 +0100
Subject: Dear Respectful One



Dear Respectful One,

In appreciation of your esteemed contact received through the internet and the choice of your country. I wish to introduce myself. My name is Mr.Terry Frank, the son of Mr.Terry Ford of Zimbabwe. During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of ourPresident 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 website to see the kind ofbrutal and wicked government we have in Zimbabwe:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/0418/zimbabwe.html

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 Father had already visited Europe to deposit the sum of Twenty Five Million US Dollars (US$25,000,000.00) in a Vault House.

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 am telling you all this just because I don\'t want to invest this funds in london due to my status here 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,a certificate of deposit was issued whenwe deposited the funds with the Vault House and i have the document with me.

We are seriously looking for a trusted partner that will assist us with the convenient and legal claimant of the consignment containing the funds and onward transfer of the funds out of the Vault House. Your help will be appreciated with 25% 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 will 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 forbetter communication. God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,
Terry Frank


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