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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: "mrjohnwood" <mrjohnwood@excite.com>
Reply-To: johnwood_100@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 13:01:20 -0500 (EST)
Subject: RE: GET BACK TO ME




REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR/CEO.DEAR SIR,AMDAM

I AM VERY GLAD TO WRITE YOU THIS MAIL, HAVING BEEN INTIMATED WITH YOUR CONTACT BY THE COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ENGLAND WHOM I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR. BY THIS INTRODUCTION, I HAVE EVERY BELIEF THAT I CAN GAIN EVERY CONFIDENCE I REQUIRE IN THIS TRANSACTION TO CARRY ON WITH YOU.

LET ME FIRST START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU. MY NAME IS MR. JOHN WOOD. I AM THE GENERAL MANAGER,CUSTOMER SERVICES, HSBC BANK LONDON. WHEN I WAS JUST NEWLY PROMOTED IN FEBRUARY, 2000, I HAPPENED TO ACCOUNT THE BALANCES OF ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS WHO LATER DIED AS A RESULT OF LIVER PROBLEMS. HIS NAME WAS MR. ADRIANO MULLA, AN AMERICAN CONTRACTOR WITH FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING IN ENGLAND HERE. HE WAS SUCH A NICE MAN BUT, INCIDENTALLY UPTIL THIS DATE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY BODY TO COME AS HIS NEXT OF KIN TO CLAIM HIS ACCOUNT CREDIT DESPITE OUR EFFORT TO REACH ANY RELATION OF HIS.

THEREFORE AS A RESULT, I HAVE CONSULTED WITH TWO OTHER COLLEAGUES OF MINE TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE SO THAT YOU CAN PUT IN CLAIMS REQUISITION AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO INHERIT THE ACCOUNT OF MR. MULLA. I SHALL SUPPLY YOU WITH EVERY DETAILS OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO CLAIM THIS MONEY WHICH STANDS AT USD $45,307.000 MILLION AS AT THE LAST ACCOUNT ENDED 12 MARCH,2002. MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE AGREED TO COMPENSATE YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE BY OFFERING A TOTAL OF 25% TO YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO CLAIM THIS MONEY FOR US IN YOUR NAME, AS YOU WILL BE MADE THE BENEFICIARY TO THIS FUNDS. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THIS TRANSACTION SECRET AS WE HAVE PERFECTED EVERY PLANS TO ENSURE THAT THIS MONEY IS PAID IMMEDIATELY THERE IS AN INTEREST FROM YOU TO CLAIM THIS MONEY FOR US.

BEST REGARDS,MR. JOHN WOOD.

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