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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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Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Attorney George" <georgechambers001@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2005 02:49:37 +0000
Subject: URGENT

DEAR SIR/MADAM, 
IT IS MY HUMBLE PLEASURE TO WRITE YOU THIS LETTER IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME. HOWEVER, I GOT YOUR NAME THROUGH YOUR COUNTRY BUSINESS ATTACHEE HERE IN MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN HANDLE SUCH CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION OF THIS NATURE. I AM BARRISTER GEORGE  M. KOLOMA, A FAMILY LAWYER TO OUR LATE MILITARY HEAD OF STATE GENERAL SANI ABACHA WHO DIED SUDDENLY IN POWER ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 1998.
 
SINCE HIS UNTIMELY DEMISE, THE FAMILY HAS SUFFERED A LOT OF HARASSMENT FROM THE REGIME THAT SUCCEEDED HIM AND THIS CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT. RECENTLY, THE WIFE WAS BANNED FROM TRAVELLING OUTSIDE NIGERIA BEING A FALLOUT FROM THE SEIZURE OF 38 SUITE CASES CONTAINING CASH MONEY (US$800 MILLION) FROM HER AT THE MURTALA MOHAMMED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ON HER WAY TO SAUDI ARABIA, ALSO HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM HER AND HER SON  WHO IS IN INCASERATION NOW. THERE ARE STILL LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN HARD CURRENCY SAVED WITH SOME COURIER SERVICES OUTSIDE NIGERIA AND MRS. ABACHA HAS SHOWN ME DOCUMENTS OF WHERE THE HUSBAND DEPOSITED US$14.7 MILLION IN A SECURITY VAULT FOR SAFE KEEPING.
 
HOWEVER, THE FAMILY IS NOW BANKRUPT FOLLOWING THE INCASERATION OF MOHAMMED HER SON WHO WAS CHARGED FOR THE MURDER OF KUDIRAT ABIOLA THE WIFE OF LATE CHIEF MOSHOOD ABIOLA, RECENTLY THE FAMILY APPROACHED ME TO GET A RELIABLE PERSON WHO WILL CLAIM THE MONEY ON THEIR BEHALF IN THE COURIER SERVICES.

THIS MONEY IS ALREADY IN OVESEAS AND IT IS DEPOSITED IN DIPLOMATIC BOX AS ARTIFACTS AND PERSONAL EFFECTS, IT IS ONLY THE BOTH OF US THAT KNOWS IT CONTAINS CASH MONEY. IF YOUR CONDITIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE WE WILL PREPARE YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE BOX. WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS WITH US. THE COURIER SERVICE ABROAD  HAVE CALLED US TO DO SOME THING ABOUT CLAIMING THESE BOX WHICH WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WE SHALL GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM AS SOON AS  POSSIBLE. REMEMBER THAT WE ARE MAKING THIS CONTACT BECAUSE WE CANNOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY UNTIL AFTER THE COURT CASES. NOTE, THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED BECAUSE I AM ALSO INVOLVED AS THE ABACHA’S DEFENCE ATTORNEY. WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY ON MY DIRECT EMAIL BOX:
bar_koloma@yahoo.com OR george_chambers001@yahoo.com
JUST DESTROY THIS INFORMATION AS THIS IS A TOP SECRET. WE SHALL BE PREPARED TO DO MORE BUSINESS WITH YOU AT THE END OF THIS TRANSACTION. I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
BEST REGARDS.
BARR. GEORGE  M.  KOLOMA ( ESQ)

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