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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: "Michael" <chaelyada@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: micyada@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 23:16:20 +0200
Subject: Hello.

Hello,
I know this letter may beat your imagination, as we have no previous correspondence.Please i am looking for someone with whom i would be able to establish a business based on good venture and understanding.

To introduce myself,My name is Michael Yada from Sierra Leone.My late father made the sum of US$9,500,000.00(Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars),so now i will like to do this
transaction with you as someone who have been into production.

My late father deposited this money in a security company in Dakar-Senegal.But unfortunately for him he died, since his death the present government has consficated all his properties because of this i
decided to travel to Senegal where my last hope lies and where i am currently living.

I intend to invest this money on any profitable business venture.I have met with and held discussion with the security company showed them the epositional documents which my father left behind of which my
name appeared as the next of kin,the company awaits my coming with the foreign beneficiary for the withdrawal and i am afraid of disclosing the contents to them since my father strictly warned me against that.

If it appeals to you to help me.If all goes well 25% of the total amount will be for you.I hope we will co-operate very happily in the future.Please reply.My Tel is +221-591-9323.

Thanks.
Mr.Michael Yada.





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