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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: "MRS.ROSELINE OBASEKI" <roseline_oba2003@msn.com>
Reply-To: roseline_oba2003@maktoob.com
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:50:18 +0000
Subject: HELLO DEAR

Mrs.Roseline Obaseki
Flat 8 Block 12 NNPC Quarters
Garki Abuja Nigeria.
 
Hello Dear,
I am really sure that you will be of a good assistance  after going thoroughly through this letter.  My name is Mrs Roseline Obaseki. I am the secretary to the late first lady of Nigeria Mrs Stella Obasenjo. The late first lady Mrs Stella Obasenjo before her  death on 22nd of Oct.2005, she gave me some documents which contain  contract funds she intend to award to a foreign firm. But she has not given the contract out before her death.
 
I want to use this opportunity to  move the sum of (US$30M) into your custody for safe keeping,  pending my arrival in your country. But government belives that the contract is going on now, but which is not. The contract worth of $30 MILLION US DOLLARS. the contract is to be awarded to foreign firm. As the secretary, my problem now is that I am no longer in the office of the first lady and since the government believe that the contract is in process. Nobody knows that the contract is not in process expect his Exellency and I.
 
The money was then neatly packed in four boxes and tagged as Diplomatic Documents and  film materials (PERSONAL EFFECTS).I then deposited the boxes for  save keeping in a security/finance company in Nigeria on August  3rd 2005. The security company do not know that the four boxes  contains money This was done for  security reasons. Please take  proper note of this. Some top government officials in Nigeria use  this method to transfer money to their foreign partners outside  the country for confidential reasons. The little money I use for personal expenses here has finished that is why I needed your assistance to process the release of the boxes from the security company where it was deposited. I want these boxes to taken out of the security company to  your destination so that I can be able to open the boxes and  retreive the money for my expenses and  to arrange myself for business investment. Be rest assured that this  transaction is 100% risk free.
 
I need you  to stand  so that the are to take up the contract so that the cash can be clear from the security company. As soon as this money is moved to you, and you confirm to  me that you have received it, I will be coming to meet you up there  in your country where I wish to live the rest of my life .I will be  offering you 30% of this money if you show your personal commitment in this transaction  and 2.5% of the money will be used to settle any personal expenses  that have been incured  along the line of the transaction and for all your help at this time of need. Be informed that this transaction will not last more  than 14 working days  and it will be concluded because every arrangement has been put in  place.
 
Hope to hear from u soon,
Yours faithfully, 
Mrs.Roseline Obaseki

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