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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.Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.mailunit@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:42:17 -0000
Subject: This is a personal email directed to you for your consideration alone?

Attention:


I am Mr.John Brown, a banker. I believe that you will be capable and trustworthy to handle this transaction after getting your contact information. Also I hope we can assist each other as we progress in this transaction.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us. On the course of the 2011 end of the year’s report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made Six Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (USD6,550.000.00) of which my head Office is not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since then PLACED this fund on a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

As a Manager in the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am compelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to part with 40% of this fund to you as gratification while 60% shall be for me but I need your own opinion on this. If you accept my offer you can contact me for more details .

NOTE: There are practically no risk involve in this transaction. It will be a bank-to-bank transfer and i have mapped out plans of executing this transaction with full co-operation of our database administrator (he is the only person aware of the money because there is no way we can do the transaction without him). He will provide enough information into our bank's database to give the transaction the needed history/legitimacy as well as identifying you as the depositor of the funds, if you accept to go along with me.

All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund and provide an account where this money will be transferred into by our head office, if you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response as soon as you receive this mail.


With Regards,
Mr.John Brown.

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