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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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Fraud email example:

From: "frank smith" <jsmith_f@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: photofranksmith@hotmail.ro
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 13:40:13 +0000
Subject: Reporting from Ar-ramadi Iraq

Hello Sir/Madam,

I am very sorry to interrupt your peace Since you are not expecting to
receive any mail from me. However, I was obliged to do so due to the
importance and urgency of the message. I crave your indulgence, and want to
reasure you that I mean well and that it is only for our mutual good. So
please do not be embarrassed.

My name is Frank J. Smith, I am a British Citizen, Reporter and
Photo-Journalist attached to the United Kingdom military. I am writing this
message from Ar-ramadi in Iraq. We hit Iraq in May 12, 2003 and have moved
around a few times building up F.O.B. around the western side of the country
as well as missions into Baghdad, with attacks by insurgents everyday and
car bombs, we managed to move funds belonging to Saddam Hussein’s family
which we found in his palace shortly after his arrest, The total amount is
US$25 Million dollars in cash, mostly 100 dollar bills. We want to move this
money out of Iraqi, since it is a war zone although partially ended but the
daily activities of suicide bombers is frighteningly on the increase.

I reached an agreement with the members of my team whom are UN officials
and we agreed to keep this money to ourselves and then moved the box out of
Iraq to Europe (with their immunity as UN officials they are not searched at
borders or Airports). Now, I am in need of a reliable and trustworthy person
or company overseas whom I can confidently work with since my work does not
permit me to own a foreign bank account or any personal business until
retirement. I have not finished my assignment and cannot return to the UK
now.

I have the honor to confide this information in you and to request for your
pleasure to assist in receiving and secure the money in your account,
pending our retirement from service. You are therefore expected and advised
to display high degree of maturity,responsibility and understanding in
handling this information. I will give you all the details in my next mail
when you have indicated your interest and commitment to work with me. Always
remember that this is the highest confidence and trust any person can
response on the other,especially when it is considered that we did not know
ourselves before.

I hope you will honor me too. We can come over to join you for sharing and
to guarantee that we have unlimited access to you before and when the funds
hit your account. Moreso for an effective and easy communication I will
advice that you furnish me with your phone numbers and other necessary
details to make me rest assured that you are geniune.

PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLY TO: <photofranksmith@hotmail.ro>

I eagerly await your positive response.

Best regards,

Respectfully,

FRANK J. SMITH
Reporting from Ar-ramadi Iraq
photofranksmith@hotmail.ro


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