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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: "Abdul Cole" <cole_abdul2002@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:06:45 +0000
Subject: Re. Mutual Business co-operation(ATTN: MANAGING DIRECTOR.)


ATTN: MANAGING DIRECTOR.
Dear friend,
I know this message might come to you as a surprise since you don't know me.

I got your contact through a desperate and personal search on the web for someone I could really trust as I have prayed over it and I wish to express my interest to handle this matter with you as I believe that you are reliable in handling these type of international transaction.
Though we have not met before but I believe, one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life. However, it is not mandatory or in any manner compelling you to Honor against your will,

I am Abdul Cole ,22 years old boy and the only son to the former Minister of Mines and Energy who was killed during the Sierra-Leone crisis by the rebels.
I am now residing in Banjul, The Gambia as a refugee and my father before his untimely death left behind a box containing physical cash of US$15 Million (Fifteen million US dollars) Which he safely deposited in a security vault during his regime in the office and now I need a foreign business man or woman who may stand as my guardian and benefactor to this fund by acting as my father foreign partner so that I can retrieve the money from the security company and transfer it to the person's foreign bank account for safe keeping and proper investment to secure my future.
I am just 22, years old and a high school college boy, with no knowledge of business which is why I am in need of a partner who will assist me to get this fund released for investments in his or her country while I proceed with my education.

Dearest, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance on this regard, and If you know you are capable of handling such a huge amount of money, respond to me and I will compensate you by giving you 30% of the total fund and 1% for any expenses you might make during the cause of this transaction.
Note also that you must keep this transaction secret as my life is at stake if any one hears of this transaction .

Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible to enable me give you the full informations that will be needed but please if my proposal do not suit your interest, please confirm to me as to enable me solicit for another person.

Thank you so much and God bless you abundantly. Please you can reply me with this email address. You can also call me on the number below.
Yours sincerely,

Abdul Cole.
00220-7819237

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