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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: "GERHARD TORIL" <gerhard_toril@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: gt_gerhard@excite.com
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 06:29:42 +0000
Subject: HEAL THE WORLD!

Dearest Friend,


As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Gerhard Toril
merchant from Norway. On 10th Feburary 2002 myself and my
family and my business partner took a flight from kish to sharjah
and we flew kish airline.We had a plane crash and all members
of my family including my very good friend lost thier lives.

I give thanks to God that i am one of the lucky ones that survived
the crash.The airline was under the management of one Mr Shabab
Attarzadeh who was later sacked after this incidence.I had to return
to my home town in Norway and i am now left with my relatives to
take care of me. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer .It
has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have
only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared
for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I
was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on
my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all
this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have
or make all the money in the world.

I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I
would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that
God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and
assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close
friends. I
want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to
give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last
good
deeds I do on earth.So far, I have distributed money to some charity
organizations in the U.A.E, Somalia and Malaysia. Now that my health has
deteriorated so
badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my
family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have
there to
charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they refused and kept the
money
to themselves.Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as tey seem not to be
contended with what I have left for them. It is my fervent hope that
you will,with open mind,read,and respond positively to this heartfelt
message of propagating the God's work.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of
Thirty Eight Million dollars ($38, 000, 000, 00) that I have with a
finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help me collect
this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations,please reply me
via my private email:gt_gerhard@excite.com for furture correspondence.


I have set aside 30% for you and for your Effort.
May God bless you as you respond to my plea.

Mr. Gerhard Toril
please reply to gt_gerhard@excite.com

PEACE BE WITH YOU


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