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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. SUHA D. ARAFAT" <suharafat@zwallet.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: suharafat@uymail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2005 01:49:25 +0200
Subject: A CALL FOR AN ASSISTANCE

DEAR SIR,

I AM MRS.SUHA D ARAFAT,THE WIFE OF THE YASSER ARAFAT.
THE PALESINIAN LEADER WHO DIED RECENTLY IN PARIS FRANCE.
SINCE THE DEATH AND EVEN PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT
I HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO A STATE OF ANTAGONISM, CONFUSION
HUMILIATION, FRUSTRATION AND HOPELESSNESS BY THE PRESENT
LEADERSHIP OF THE PALESTINIAN LEBERATION ORGANIZATION AND
THE NEW PRIME MINISTER HEADED BY MAMOUD ABBAS.

I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I NEEDED YOUR HELP, MY LATE HUSBAND
DEPOSITED THE SUM OF NINE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS ($9,500,000:00) IN A SUCURITY COMPANY IN
AMSTERDAM HOLLAND,I AND MY LITTLE DAUGHTER ZAHWA WANTS TO USE
THIS MONEY TO RELOCATE TO YOUR COUNTRY, SO THAT WITH YOUR HELP
WE CAN USE THIS MONEY TO START A NEW LIFE IN YOUR CARE. IF ONLY
YOU CAN MEET THE SECURITY COMPANY REQURIMENTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE
DIRECTOR OVER THIS ISSUE.

I READY TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN YOUR NAME IN YOUR COUNTRY
IF OLY YOU CAN HELP ME RECEIVE THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY.
ALS READY TO GIVE YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM.

PLEASE IF YOUR ARE INTERESTED, I AM WAITING FOR
YOUR VERY URGENT REPLY.

BEST REGARDS,

MRS.SUHA D. ARAFAT
REPLY EMAIL ONLY: suharafat@uymail.com


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