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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: "EMILE" <emile_34_alin@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 15:11:49 +0200
Subject: URGENT


MY DEAREST,

I AM EMILE ALIN 24YRS OF AGE FEMALE FROM CUBA . A MOTHER OF A CHILD I AM
CURRENTLY IN A HORRIBLY STITUATION .I AM WRITING YOU BASE ON YOUR HIGH
LEVEL OF MATURITY AND BY VIRTUE OF YOUR POSITION TO SEEK FOR YOU ADVISED
AND HELP AS WELL .IT IS ALL ABOUT MY LATE HUSBAND AND WHAT I HAVE GONE
THROUGH AFTER THE DEATH OF MY LATE HUSBAND AND WHAT HIS RELATIVES DID TO
ME. I AM MEANT WITH MY LAWYER AND HE ADVISE ME ON ISSUED THAT I WILL NEED
YOUR ASSISTANCS. I WILL GIVE YOU FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT MY SELF AFTER I HAVE
HEAR FROM YOU YOU CAN REACH ME WITH MY EMAIL ADDRESS (emicuba22@hotmail.com
)I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU. REGARDS, EMILE

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