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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: stella adams <a00stellams@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 14:38:51 +0100 (CET)
Subject: GOOD DAY


GOOD DAY,
I AM STELLA ADAMS ,24 YEARS OLD,MY FATHER OWNS A LIMITED OF COCOA AND GOLD BUSINESS IN REPUBLIQUE OF LIBERIA. AFTER HIS TRIP TO ABIDJAN COTE DIVIORE TO NEGOTIATE ON A COCOA AND GOLD BUSINESS HE WANTED TO INVEST IN ABROAD.ONE WEEK HE CAME BACK FROM HIS TRIP TO ABIDJAN HE HAD A MOTOR ACCIDENT WITH MY SISTER WHICH MY SISTER DIED INSTANTLY BUT MY FATHER DIED AFTER FIVE DAYS IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN MY COUNTRY.

IT WAS LIKE MY FATHER KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE MAY HIS GENTLE SOUL REST IN PREFECT PEACE. HE DISCLOSED TO ME AND MY MOTHER THAT HE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF (USD $5.2 Million) DOLLARS IN THE BANK IN ABIDJAN COTE DIVIORE THE MONEY WAS MEANT FOR HIS COCOA AND GOLD BUSINESS HE WANTED TO ESTABLISH IN ABROAD.NOW I AM SOLICITING FOR YOUR HELP TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT.PROMISE TO GIVE YOU 10% PERCENT OF THE
TOTALL AMOUNT
REGARDS.
STELLA


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