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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: "Barry Osas." <barry4osas@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:30:03 +0000
Subject: I Need Your Assistance.


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writting this letter with due respect and heartful of tears since we
have not known or met ourselves previously I am asking for your assistance
after I have gone through a profile that speaks good of you. I am sorry
about the miss-up in registration.I want to find out if it's possible for
you to deal with individual as to investment. I came across your profile and
I feel it's highly reputable that is why I pick an interest getting across
to you in respect of investment at my disposal I inherited a huge
amount of money from my late father,I wrote you in orderto solicite
for your help and assistance with hope you will understand my situation.
My name is Barry Osas.I am 23 years old from the republic of Sierra Leone in
west Africa,now seeking refuge in Dakar Senegal under the Unite Nation HighCommission For Refugees (UNHCR).My (late) father Dr. Zamani Osas ,was the managing director
J & D Oil company in (FREE TOWN) Sierra Leone. But he was
killed along side with my senior brother during the longing civil war by
rebels and all our properties was totally destroyed.
However,after their death and burial I managed to escape with a very
important document (DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE) of (US$6.5m) Six Million Five Hundred
Thousand U.S Dollars,this document indicated me as the Next of Kin
.Meanwhile,I am saddled with the problem of securing a trust worthy foriegn
personality or an organisation to help me transfer the money over to Your
country with the intention of investing it in a business under his/her
directives and supervisstions,because I have no knowledge of investment.
Please if you are so kind as to assist me I shall send to you all vital
informations for your confirmation regarding the bank where the fund was
lodged.
I am giving you this offers as mentioned with every confidence on
your acceptance to assist me as yourson and manage the money in my behalf
untill such a time Iam able to stand on my feet.I will be happy to hear from you.
God Bless you as you consider me
Barry.




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