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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.Cullen George" <cullen_george03@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: cullen_george01@yahoo.ca
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:15:36 +0100
Subject: HOPE IN GOD REPLY PLEASE

Dear Respectfull One,
Greeting,
I write to intimate you of a matter that requires an urgent attention.
But briefly, I am cullen the first son of late Enginer george he was the chairman/CEO of the Sierra-Leone national Gold and Diamond Mining Corporation.It is my pleasure communicating with you for the first time and believing that it will lead to a better relationship between us.
I also hope you will not impede this trust and confidence I repose in you.I send this letter from Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire where I have an official refugee status with my mother after leaving our country due to an event that took place on Febuary 2003 which led to the arrest and detention of my father and six other men after a face off with the
Sierra-Leone government on allegation of subversive activities and
treasonable offences which was nothing but a mere political persecution.
After five months in the military detention camp my father was
announced dead by the government special press release.
Though I do not know to what extent you are familiar with the event and crisis in
Sierra-Leone, however during the disturbance and prior to my father's
death he gave me all the documents for the secret deposit he made in a
security company in Abidjan. The deposit is US$ 12 Million US Dollars, he made the deposit in one trunk box(cash), but the real content of the box was not disclosed to the security company officials as this was deposited as personal effect.(for security reasons)However I have gone to the security company to confirm the deposit and establish ownership, please I need your assistance urgently in moving this fund abroad for investment,
when the fund is properly secured we will jointly invest in any business you consider profitable.I will be glad for your resolved assistance, I will kindly appreciate if we can talk and emerge words with action. With all honesty to the stated data in my message,i assure you of the genuity of this proposal. I will particularly be happy if you can handle this transaction in the most confidential manner since the rest of my life solely depends on this fund.It is the fear of betrayal from anyone around us here that confirms my decision to contact a neutral individual like you, and I want you to educate me on investment potential in your country since I would not like to invest or stay in any of the African
country,except otherwise.I will not hesitate to give you 20% or negotiable of the total sum for your assistance.
So if you will be able to assist me, please do urgently reply me for further clarification and confirmation and in order to stop further contacts. please E-mail immediately you receive this massage.Thank for your anticipated co-operation, May Lord bless you.
Your Sincerely,
Cullen_George


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