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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mohammed U Bello" <usmanbello@123mail.cl> (may be fake)
Reply-To: akuumu2004@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 10:53:26 -0800
Subject: I need your assistance

Name:Barrister Mohammed U Bello
Email:akuumu2004@hotmail.com
Fax:44-8702361458
7 Pilgrim Street
London EC4V 6LB
England.

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Mohammed Bello, the family attorney to Mrs Hadiza Arafat whois the
second wife to late Mohammed Abdul-Rauf Arafat Al Qudwa of Palestine. I
am contacting you for assistance on behalf of Mrs Hadiza Arafat, donot see
this letter as a junk or one of the internet scam mails.
Before the death of Mohammed Abdul-Rauf Arafat Al Qudwa ,he deposited some
Gold (24 carrat) and diamond with the name of his second wife Mrs Hadiza
Arafat in the security company.This property was not included in
his will which he wrote,that is why my client wants the Gold anddiamond to
be retrieved out of the security company and sellit on aution prize before
someof the members of the family will aware of this deposit in the security
company.

This gold will be sold below 100% compared to what it is sold in the
international market. I need your assistance so that this Gold and diamond
will be retrieved out of the security company.The goods worth US$35 Millon,
you will be compensated wite 25% after the transaction.Do not be
surprised where I got your email address, I got it through world business
internet directory Please if you are intersted to assist in this
transaction, you rich me
on my private phone or email.

Best Regards,
Barrister Mohammed U Bello


Anti-fraud resources: