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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: harry1edward@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 17:41:55 +0200
Subject: Please kindly reply.

From Mr.Harry edward
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: +27- 84-324-2607
Fax: +27-83-466-6671
EMAIL:harry1edward@yahoo.com

ATTN:DEAREST FREIND

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL & URGENT.

Before I go further I will like to introduce myself, I am Mr.Harry Edward, a native of CapeTown in South Africa and I am an Executive Accountant with the Department of Minerals $ Mining. First and foremost, I apologize for using this medium to reach you in a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium that I decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described Hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.
Within the Department of Minerals & Mining where I work as the Executive Accountant, I have in my possession as overdue payment bills totaling Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand U. S. Dollars ($7,500,000.00), which I want to transfer abroad with the assistance and cooperation of a foreign Company/individual to receive the said fund on my behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to receive such funds.
More so, I am handicapped in the circumstances, as the South African Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance in the whole transaction.
This amount of US$7.5Million represents the balance of the total contract value executed on by a foreign contracting firm in our department, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately.
Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount.
I have the authority to propose that should you be willing to assist me in this transaction, your share of the sum will be 25% of the US$7.5 million, 70% for me and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses.
The business itself is 100% safe and risk free on your part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
Also your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction.
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.
Endeavor to contact me immediately through my above Telephone/Fax numbers or my e-mail address, whether or not you are interested in this deal. If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partner to carry out this deal.
I want to assure you that I am in position to make the payment of this claim possible provided you can give me a very strong assurance and guarantee that my share will be secured and please remember to treat this issue as very confidential matter, because we will not comprehend with any form of exposure as am still in active Government Service and remember once again that time is of the essence in this business.
I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

MR.HARRY EDWARD.

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