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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "John Brown" <johnbrown45@msn.com>
Reply-To: drjohn_brown2005@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:29:32 +0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

SIR/M

I WISH TO COMMENCE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS WITH YOU INVOLVING
THE TRANSFER OF US$121.3 MILLION (ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE MILLION
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS) CASH FOR YOUR SAFEKEEPING
PENDING ON MY ARRIVAL TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT/ INVESTMENT.
I AM John Brown ESQ., ATTORNEY TO LATE BOLA IGE, (MINISTER OF
JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA) WHO WAS
ASSASSINATED ON SUNDAY 23RD OF DECEMBER 2001.

MY CLIENT CONFIDENTIALLY DEPOSITED THE CASH WITH GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COURIER/
SECURITY SERVICES ABROAD AS PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL BEFORE HIS SUDDEN
DEATH, ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION OF THE DEPOSIT IS WITH ME, THIS FUND
HE MADE WHILE SERVING AS A MINISTER FOR POWER, MINES AND STEEL. I AM
THEREFORE SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE TO FURNISH ME IMMEDIATELY YOUR
PARTICULARS (FULL NAME, SAFEST TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, COMPANY
NAME &ADDRESS) TO ENABLE ME PREPARE A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN YOUR
FAVOUR TO CLAIM THE FUND AND SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSFER THE FUND TO YOUR
ACCOUNT FOR OUR (YOU AND ME) FUTURE MUTUAL AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS.
YOU ARE ENTITLED TO 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION AND 70% WILL
BE KEPT FOR OUR INVESTMENTS THEREAFTER.

MAINTAIN NON-DISCLOSURE OF FACTS TO THIRD PARTY AND DO NOT HESITATE
TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL.

BEST REGARDS,

John Brown ESQ.
TEL: 234-805 226 9041 = FAX:234-7903484
FURTHER EMAILS:donatusmike2005@yahoo.com



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