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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Rafiq Rehman" <rafiqrehman1@netscape.net>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 13:26:10 -1100
Subject: HELP THE NEEDY

Urgent Assistance Please Help!!!

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not
yet met. I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any pains
so I decided to contact you through this medium .As you read this, I don't
want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die
someday.

My name is Rafiq Rehman, a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been
diagnosed with prostate and esophageal Cancer that was discovered very late
due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all form of
medicine and right now, I have only about a few months to live according to
medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never
really cared for anyone not even myself but my business. Though I am very
rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on
my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all
this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or
make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance
to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have
lived it.

Now that I know my time is near, I have willed and given most of my
properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as
well as a few close friends and Schools in the UAE. I have decided to give
alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good
deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity
organizations in the U.A.E, London and Ireland. Now that my health has
deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self any more. I once asked
members of my family to close one of my accounts and donate the money, which
I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria; they refused and kept the
money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to
be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which is
the huge cash deposit that I have with Financial Firm Abroad .I will want
you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity
organizations and let them know that it is I Rafiq Rehman that is making
this generous donation. I am writing this from my laptop computer in my
hospital bed where I wait for my time to come. I pray that God uses you to
support and assist me with good heart

God be with you.
Mr. Rafiq Rehman
Please reply to: rafiqrehman1@netscape.net



NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last
wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email as I don't want
anybody to know because they are always around me. Do Endeavour to send your
phone as well as your fax for easy communication.


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