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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: "Mr. Michael Elliott" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelelliott2@gmx.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:26:23 +0100
Subject: HI From Michael Elliott

Dear Friend,

Before I introduce myself, I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax and I urge you to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a day that people meet and become great friends and business partners. This is a personal and private mail directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. My name is Michael Elliott. I was the personal assistance /sole executor to late Patrick Arnault, An European, hereafter referred to as 'My late Boss'. He was an independent oil magnate here in Europe. He died in a car crash with his immediate family on the 4th of Oct 2003. Since the death of my boss in Oct 2003, I have tried to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimant / beneficiary of his abandoned monetary deposit and all such efforts have been to no avail.

About a week ago, I received a letter suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his deposit in line with existing laws by the storage firm in which my boss deposited the sum of forty Million British Euro. On this note I decided to search for a credible person to present as the Next of Kin to his Estate. I am contacting you that I may, with your consent, present you to the "trustee" storage firm as my late boss surviving family member so as to enable you put up a claim to the storage firm in that capacity as a next of kin of my late Boss. I propose that 40% of the net sum will accrue to you at the conclusion of this deal, while I retain the balance of 60%

Therefore, to facilitate the immediate receiving of this fund, you need firstly, signify your interest by contacting me via e-mail, and as soon as I obtain your confidence, I will immediately appraise you with the complete details. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as all necessary arrangements have been made for you to successfully receive the fund in your possession within 10 working days of signifying your interest. Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please, include your Name, Address, Private and confidential Phone and Fax numbers in your reply for easy communication.

Best regards,
Michael Elliott

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