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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: "alexagootti1" <alexagootti1@canada.com>
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:54:45 -0800
Subject: Mr Alexander Gootti

Zulberg Closeoff
Ernest Oppenheimer
Road Bruma Lake,
Johannesburg,219
South Africa.




[Urgent Transfer]

Hello,

My name is Mr Alexander Gootti,I work in the International
operation department in a Local Bank here in South Africa.
On a routine Inspection I discovered a dormant domiciliary
account with a Balance of $36,000,000 (Thirty Six Million
USD) on further discreet investigation, I also discovered
that the account holder has long since passed away (dead)
leaving no beneficiary to the account. The bank will approve
this money to any foreigner because the former operator of
thea/c is a foreigner and from Iraq in particularand I am
certainly sure that he is dead, and nobody will come again
for the claim of this money A foreigner can only claim this
money
with legal claims to the account Holder; therefore I need
your
cooperation in this transaction.

I will provide the necessary information needed in order to
claim this money, But you will need to open an account where
this can be transferred. If interested send your private
Telephone No. And Fax number including full details of the
account to be used for the Deposit I wish for utmost
confidentiality in handling this transaction as my job and
the future of my family
would be jeopardized if it were breached.

I want to assure you that the transaction is without risk if
due process is followed accordingly.Finally, I will give you
25% for your corporation.

I look forward to a favorable response


Yours
Mr Alexander Gootti



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