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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: "George Khumalo" <george-khumalo1@webmail.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 02:59:13 +0200
Subject: MUTUAL BENEFICT REPLY UPON RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL

FROM THE DESK OF GEORGE KHUMALO (ESQ.)
ADDRESS: NO 20 BOTHA CRESENT SANDTON
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
TEL:27-83-696-8772

HELLO,

RE: MUTUAL BENEFIT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I am writing this email in regards to the tsunami disaster,
which has claimed so many lives including the live of my
Client Mr. MUHAMMED SADIK I am MR. George Khumalo and my
client is the chairman of a company here in South Africa
that deals with Gold Mining and Exportation.

The last time I heard from him was on the 19th of December
2004, when he confirmed to me that he has arrived Thailand
with his family safely and hope to return back to South
Africa before 5th of January 2005. From all verifications
and records from the embassy it shows that my client is
among those that have been dead with his family. The bank
where his assets are deposited worth Valued at about
($15,450, 000.00 Million US Dollar) has issued me a notice
as his legal adviser to provide the next of kin. I have
been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for this
notification.

I have made several inquiries to their embassy to locate
any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful and I have contacted you to assist me in
repatriating the money and property left behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of
the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at
(US$15,450, 000.00 Million US Dollar) can be paid to you
and then you and I can share the money 45% to me and 35% to
you and 20% will be sent to their country for charity to
support the lives of dying people over there. Note that I
personally will notarize all the necessary legal documents
that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us
seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law.

Yours Sincerely
George Khumalo (ESQ.)


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