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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: "George A. Edde" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <geoge.edde@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 11:35:09 -0700
Subject: Forgive My Unprecedented Proposal

Dear friend,
 
My name is George Edde.  I work as an International Auditor with one of the leading banks in
Amsterdam, Netherlands.  I am writing you once again regarding my previous message concerning
one of our late client who died of heart attack in the year 2000, leaving behind a fixed depository
bond of Seven Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Euros with our finance company without a registered
heir/beneficiary before his demise.
 
Therefore, I hereby seek your consent to present you as his next of kin/beneficiary, since you have
similarity in name identity with our late client and can perfectly fit in as his next of kin.  I have given
you all the necessary details to this effect, without any positive response from you, so kindly get
back to me today.
 
Thank you.
 
George A. Edde

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