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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: "maria smith" <mariasmithfamily00004@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:24:49 +0000
Subject: FROM MRS MARIA SMITH

FROM MRS MARIA SMITH
1418 AGULAS STREET,
JOHNNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL:+27-73-3744-720.


MANAGER DIRECTOR/CEO:

This letter is not intended to cause you any embarrassment in whatever form,
rather compel to contact your esteemed self, following knowledge of your
high repute and trust worthiness is borne out of this difficult situation
that my family has been engulfed in since my husband and read winner of our
family was forced to relinquish his position in the State, and our family
driven out of our country into exile.

I am Mrs.MARIA SMITH, the wife of Brigadier Arnold SMITH from Angola. As a
widow, I looking for an individual /company who can assist me and my son in
transferring a reasonable sum of money abroad to a company / private
account. I on behalf of my only son JOHN SMITH decided to solicit for your
assistance to transfer the sum Of35Million(Thirty five Million United States
Dollars) deposited by my late husband in a private security company in
Johannesburg South Africa.

Before the death of my husband he was a brigadier in charge of arms and
ammunitions procurement for the Angolan Army.In his Will he specifically
drew my attention to the sum of US$35 Million, which he deposited in the
safe box of in private security company in johannesburg, South Africa. In
fact he said and I quote ? My beloved son, I wish to draw your Attention to
the sum of US$35 Million. I deposited the box containing the fund in a
security company in Johannesburg, South Africa. During the war I Was
dedicated and committed to winning the war against the rebels until I found
out that some senior army officials and government functionaries were busy
helping themselves with government funds and Properties and sending them to
foreign countries.Due to this, when the former Special Adviser to the
President and I were assigned by the President (Jose Eduardo Santos) to
purchase arms in South Africa, we saw this as a golden opportunity to divert
the money For our personal use. When we saw shared the money, I got a total
sum of US$35 Million). I did this incase of my absence due to death so that
you John SMITH,your two sisters Grace&Anne and your mother wouldn?t suffer.
Do not disappoint me,bye for now and God bless you.?

After the burial of my husband me and my children decide to move to south
africa where this money was deposited and withdraw it and put to use and was
disappionted as it is against the human right law SECTION 22 OF THE REFUGEES
ACT NO.130 OF 1998 that aslyum seekers in the country do not have the right
to operate a bank account or to run and enterprise in the country,after much
consdiration we arrive at a piont that it will be of intrest for us to
contact a partner who we will trust and insure him or he r the beneficiary
of this fund.

From the words of my husband?s, you will understand that the lives and
future of my family depend on this fund, and as such I would be very
grateful if you can assist us. Now what I would like you to do for us as an
international partner is to help us clear this sum From the security company
using your name as the beneficiary of the fund. You can contact my son JOHN
SMITH on this number:+27-73-3744-720.


We have agreed to offer you 20% of the total sum for your assistance, 5% for
the expenses that might be incurred in the course of the transfer and the
remaining 75% for the family?s investment abroad, which you will assist us
to materialize Please, your utmost trust, sincerely and confidentiality is
highly needed in this transaction,Because of my position, be free to ask
question you consider necessary and be kind to provide me with your
communication facilities for smooth and confidential link, should this meet
your utmost consideration, please give me your earliest reply through my son
email jjsmith_0005@yahoo.com and call

my son he is in possition to tell you the next step to follow .

Thanks and God bless.
Best regards,

MRS. MARIA SMITH.

_________________________________________________________________
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