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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: "SHERIKI JOE" <sheriki_joepeace@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: sherikijoe@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 04:36:31 -0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

DEAR FRIEND MY NAME IS MR SHERIKI  JOE ,I WORK FOR A CANADIAN OWNED DIAMOND COMPANY WITH BRANCHES ALL OVER 15 AFRICAN COUNTRIES.HOWEVER,BY VIRTUE OF MY OFFICIAL REPONSIBILITIES,I AM OFFICER IN CHARGES OF ALL  DIAMOND BUSINESS TRANSACTION BETWEEN MY COMPANY AND REBELS IN THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA INCLUDING SIERRALEONE,LIBERIA AND COTED'IVORE.
 
AS A YOUNG MAN WITH FORESIGHT,I WAS ABLE TO LURE THESE REBEL ELEMENTS TO MAKE SOME REASONABLE FUNDS VIA THE SECRET DIAMOND DEALS. SO FAR,WE SUCCEED IN MAKING SOME MILLIONS OF US$ FROM SUCH DEAL WITHOUT MINING REGARDS,PRESENTLY,THE MONEY SO FAR REALISED HAS BEEN FREIGHTED TO US IN COTONOU AND ALL THE PARTY INVOLVED HAD BEEN SETTLED ACCORDINGLY.
 
THEREFORE,MY OWN SHARE OF THE BOOTY RUNS INTO FEW MILLIONS OF US
DOLLARS.PRESENTLY,I HAD PLACED THE LUMP SUM IN A VERY SAFETY FINANCE SECURITY FIRM BASED IN COTONOU,REP DU BENIN BUT UNDER A VERY STRICT AND CONFIDENTIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS ESTABLISHING MY CLAIM OF WNERSHIP.DETAILS SHALL BE DIVULGE TO YOU IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TRANSACTION.
 
I NEED FOREIGN  ASSISTANCE FOR INVESTMENT AT OFFSORE
I AM URGENTLY AWAIT YOUR PROMPT RESPOND TO THIS MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL.
 
THANKS.
 
REGARDS.
 
MR. SHERIKI  JOE

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