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

Fraud email example:

From: "john mbeki" <kito_mbeki_esq@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kito_mbeki_esq@yahoo.ie
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 17:24:22 +0000
Subject: GREETINGS !!! Mbeki & Mbeki Law Firm,

Mbeki & Mbeki Law Firm,
55 marshal street,
Johannesburg,
2001,SouthAfrica
 
RE: ATTENTION;
 
Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law
firm,mbeki and mbeki law firm in Johannesburg,South Africa.
My name is John Robinson. Mbeki. A personal attorney to late Mr. James
Harrison
who use to worked for South African Minning coporation .
Mr James Harrison a well known Philanthropist, before he
died, made a Will stating that $3.2M should be donated to any
Philanthropic organization or person of our choice overseas.
We have made a random draw your e-mail address was picked as the
beneficiary
to this will.
 
I am particularly interested in securing this money
from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to
produce
the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks or else the money will be
credited to the Government treasury as per law here.
 
It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client.
You are required to contact me immediately to start the process
of sending this money to any of our designated official account.
I urge you to contact me immediately for further details bearing in
mind that the Bank has given us a date limit.
please act fast and contact me on my private email
address: kito_mbeki_esq@yahoo.ie
 
Yours faithfully,
John R.Mbeki (esq)

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