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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 Steve Manzini <stevemanzini2005@netscape.net>
Reply-To: stevemanzini@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 19:49:10 +0100
Subject: Investment Assistance


Dear Friend,
Investment Assistance

I humbly approach you with a view that we may be able to enter into a mutual business transaction that could be of immense benefit to both parties.

As led by my instinct, I decided to contact you through email after, Searching for Contacts via the internet, as it is the only means I can contact anybody since I am cutting off ties with Sierra Leone for now.

I apologize if this is not acceptable to you. Foremost; I should begin by introducing myself.
I am Mr. STEVE MANZINI the son of late Mr. GEORGE MANZINI, a precious stone merchant in Sierra Leone, who died on the 6th of May 2003 After the death of my father, the Government of Sierra Leone arrested my mum and my kid brother on the allegation that my father was a front man to the late dictators of Sierra Leone.

All my father's assets were confiscated, by the present government and during this injustice; my brother and my mum were maltreated and tortured. From this trauma, my mum fell sick and died.

After the whole incident, I went through my Fatherâ?Ts document and I found out that he lodged $27 800,000.00 (Twenty seven Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars) kept in custody for us in a security company stashed in trunk boxes and deposited as personal belongings before he died, out side my country and he intended investing it before his untimely death.

Sir, my intention now is to invest in your country, in any profitable business you deem fit.
I will be grateful if we could come into joint business partnership. Becauseof my family background I shy away from publicity. Precisely, I prefer staying away from well know public figures in any country.

Hence I won't want my name mentioned to any one, as I still want to stay away from the scrutiny of my country government. Mentioning this mail to anyone may put me in a big mess and cause me to lose the money.

As soon as I receive your consent I will immediately forward the contact and all other information of where and how to collect this money.

For your assistance, I have two options for you. Firstly you can choose to have 20% of the money for your assistance, and helping me open an account for the money to be deposited here, or you can go into partnership with me for the proper profitable investment of the money in your country.

Please note that I can be reached on email (stevemanzini@hotmail.com or
stevemanzini2003@yahoo.co.nz )

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks and God bless,

MR. STEVE MANZINI.

NOTE: PLS BE INFORMED THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY EXPENSES OUT OF YOUR
POCKET, EVERY EXPENSES DUE TO RETREVING OF THE CONSIGNMENT SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF THE CONSIGNMENT.


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