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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: "Dr. Sheriff Guei." <doctor_guei1000gh@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:09:38 +0100
Subject: HELLO


Attn: My Dear,
I have made up my mind to contact you for assistance after considering your outstanding performance in business There are certain times in one life time that whether or not one indicate interest for certainassignment the people would look for him/her for assistance.

Pls Do not allow this golden opportunity to slip off my hands as I believe it will be of good benefit to both of us.My reason for writing to you is for the fact that I need to make a transfer of US$26.2Million to your country and this requires to be done through a trusted person who will not seat on the fund after the transfer of the fund.

Before I will comment further let me introduce myself to you I am Dr.Sheriff Guei the son of Mr Benjamin Guei, My father Mr.Benjamin Guei was the former economic adviser on petroleum to the Head of state of Equatorial Guinea, He was poisoned to death by his business partner about some months ago and he died in a private hospital in Malabo Equatorial Guinea,When he was about to die he secretly called me besidehis sick bed and told me that he deposited the sum of USD26.2Million United State Dollars in a security-firm, this he told me as he was about to die, this US$26.2M that I want to transfer to your country for investment I have decided to let you have for yourself 20% of the total sum for using your bank account in securing this fund.

I will give you more information as soon as I received your reply Please do not forget to include your personal telephone number for easy communication. I look forward to hearing from you soonest.

Truly yours
Dr. Sheriff Guei.


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