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

Fraud email example:

From: "AFREDLEN OMAR" <afred_omar@excite.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: afred_omar2@excite.com
Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 14:50:52 +0200
Subject: AFREDLEN OMAR

Dear Executive ,

There is a change of policy in our Government. The newly elected president,
Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, having vowed to tackle
corruption in the country has sacked all the entire staffs of FEDERAL MINISTRY
OF FINANCE. She has also ordered that no one should leave the shores of the
country while our accounts are being investigated. I need your assistance,
I am Mrs Afredlen Omar, from Liberia and the Director of Foreign Operations of
the Ministry.

There are concealments of fund which I would want you to assist me transfer
into a secret account. We have been banned from travelling out side the country
pending the out come of our accounts that are being investigated. Please I have
the sum of $11m in a bank in Europe which I would want you to assist me transfer
out.

I would not know the extent the investigation would go. You will be adequately
compensated after the transfer. Please this requires urgency and secrecy.
I need your assistance to avoid seizure of this fund. I have made the arrangements
and all I need is for you to provide an account where the money would be transfered.
There is no risk in this please but I want the money transfered before the investigation
extends to Europe.

Please get back to me as soon as possible.
afred_omar@excite.com
Sincerely yours
Mrs Afredlen Omar



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