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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: "HENRICH VAN HANS" <hen4hans@yahoo.no>
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:37:07 +0100
Subject: ASSISTANCE FOR A CHARITY PROJECT

DEAREST,
My name is Henrich Van Hans, An Austrain national I have been diagnosed
with Oesophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, 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 focused 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 God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and
assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close
friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, 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, Somalia and Malaysia. Now that my
health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once
asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the
money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan,
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 no one knows of is the
huge cash deposit of Twenty Eight Million dollars ($28,000, 000, 00) that I
have with a finance House abroad.
I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity
organizations.
N/B: KINDLY NOTE THAT 20% of this fund must go to the tsunami victims and
another 10% for your effort and time. Please if you are willing only reply
to my
private email address : henrich4hans@yahoo.no
God be with you.
Henrich Van Hans



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