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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: ben@benprivateinfo.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 14:14:30 +0100 (CET)
Subject: PLEASE YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED


URGENT ASSISTANCE

From: Mr. Benson Stevens
Email: bensonstvns@aol.com

Dear friend,

You may be surprise to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally. The purpose of my mail is that I am Mr. Benson Stevens, the first son of Dr. Dennis Stevens, who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe? I am writing from Holland (The Netherlands) where I am currently based as a political asylum seeker. Before the death of my father, he took me to Holland to deposit the sum of (US$9.2M) Nine Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only, in a private Security Deposit Company in netherland, May be he for-knew the looming danger in Zimbabwe.

This money was packaged in a box as family treasure before it was deposited to avoid much tax and demurrage from the security deposit company. This money was initially meant to purchase new machines and chemicals for the farms and also to establish a new farm in Swaziland. The land problem came when the government of Zimbabwe under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe, introduced a new land decree/act that affected a lot of rich white farmers and some few black farmers.

This resulted to the mob action and killings by Zimbabwe war Veterans and some Lunatics in the society, so to say. In fact, a lot of people were killed in this reform act, including my father. It is against this back ground that I consulted with my family to transfer this money out of Holland to a foreign account since I am now staying in Holland and the Netherlands Law, forbids a refugee (Asylum Seekers) to have such money in an account

I am therefore saddled with the responsibility by my family to seek for an ingenious person with foreign account and physically capable financially to handle this transaction. I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in the Netherlands because , I will not like to go the same experience in future since both countries have similar history .Moreover, The Netherlands foreign exchange does not allow such investments from asylum seekers. I must let you know hat this transaction is risk free. If you accept to assist me and my family it should be of a good faith and you will need to come over to Holland to open a “non resident account “ which will aid us in the transfer of the money into any of your account abroad. This money can be meant for investment purpose in any lucrative business of your choice as my business instructor. I have two options of offers for your assistance.

You may go into partnership with me in any viable business you decides to invest the money on with the shearing of the profit carefully split out if agreed upon or you may decide to have 30% of the total sum and 65% will be for me and my family and the remaining 5% will be set aside for unforeseen expenses that may incurred in the cause of pursuing the transaction to a success.

You may contact me privately on the above email address, so that I will know what your decision is about this proposal and also to discuss modalities sequel about the transaction. Please note that your area of specialization is not a hindrance to this transaction.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operations.
Yours Faithfully
Mr. Benson Stevens.

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