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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: "Mrs. Glyn Steven."<glynsteven1@yahoo.it>
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 09:18:58 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY


Financial Security Assurance
1 Angel Court
City of London
London
EC2R 7AE

Good day,

With due respect I would like to disclose a mutual transaction to you.
I am Mrs.Glyn Steven, Operations Officer of Financial Security
Assurance Inc, United Kingdom. We have a consignment in our custody
valued at $15,500,000.00 USD (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) which was deposited by one of our customer in
1998. For the past four years it is been recorded in our computer
system that the beneficiary of the deposited consignment is dead and up
till date we have not received any signal from his relatives for
claiming
of the
deposited consignment. Further to the above, two of my colleagues and
I, resolved to solicit for your cooperation to move out this
consignment to our sister's company for your collection as the
beneficiary since you bear the same surname with the depositor, we will
be responsible for all the documentations that will give your claim all
legal backing needed as the next of kin. However, as soon as I receive
your
favourable response from you indicating your full names, telephone and
fax numbers, then I will update you on the mapped out procedures
towards
the success of this transaction.
I am looking forward for your kindly response to my personal email;
glynsteven1@netscape.net

Regards,

Mrs. Glyn Steven.

Chief Operating Officer.




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