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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: Anne Smith <annesmith_2@yahoo.ca>
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:12:24 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: FROM ANNE SMITH




FROM :ANNE SMITH.
COTONOU BENIN REP.
WEST-AFRICA REGION.

DEAREST,

PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU FOR THIS SIMPLE AND SINCERE BUSINESS.

I AM ANNE SMITH, THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE MR AND MRS SMITH. MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN COTONOU, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF COTONOU BENIN REP. BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS. WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1987, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I AM MOTHERLESS.

BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2002 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN COTONOU. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$10,500,000(TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND, UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT IN A LOCAL FINANCE SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN COTONOU, THAT HE USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY DOUGHTER FOR THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.

THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE, (SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT ETC.

DEAREST, I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS;


(1) TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO.


(2) TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND SINCE I AM THE ONLY GIRL OF 20 YEARS OLD THEY HAVE.


(3) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY AFTER THE MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED.

MOREOVER, DEAREST, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR NORMINATED BANK ACCOUNT OVERSEAS.
FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS YOU SIGNIFY INTEREST TO ASSIST ME.
ANTICAIPTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS AND YOUR FAMILY,

YOURS MISS ANNE SMITH.



























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