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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: "Tony Clarke" <tonyclarke001@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:16:45 -0700
Subject: Investment proposal


Dear friend,


With high regards to your office and personality I plead your strict
understanding to open a transaction with you. I am very sorry to have verged
into your privacy without your prior knowledge. This was due to my dire and
urgent need for an assistance.

I am a civil servant by status and the law of my country does not permit me
neither others to own or operate a domiciliary account. By virtue of my
position, I was able to secure some fund amounting to the tune of Fifteen
Million United States Dollars Only (US$15M) which I cannot claim in my name
or favour hence my contacting you to seek your assistance in the claims of
this fund which I intend investing in your country or elsewhere where the
incident of TAX is very low.

I shall be glad if you can assist me get this fund into your account or
somehow out of the bank where the fund is deposited for the investment. I
shall do everything within my reach to avoid either of us getting into
trouble which could tarnish our images now or in the future.

If this proposal is acceptable by your good self, kindly permit me to start
the processes by forwarding your following details to me for immediate
action;

Your full names
Your Address
Your Telephone number
Your nominated bank account details into which the fund will be transferred.

Please note that your details are required for the purpose of documenting
the fund in your favour as the beneficiary and for my personal record
purpose.

It may interest you to know that I have done this before and was scammed so
this time around I want to be careful with whomever am dealing and I hope
you will maintain a high intergrity and personality.

Do not entertain any fear as this is risk free for as long as you can
maintain absolute secrecy.

Thanks in anticipation of your understanding.

Sincerely yours,

Tony Clarke

NB: Please send your reply to my very private email address at -
tonyclarkemails@gmail.com

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