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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: prolotto2006@terra.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:07:25 +0200
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL

From office of the Director,

Project Implementation Unit

Eskom,Republic of South Africa

Direct-tel-line+27 78-232-6795



DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I KNOW THAT THIS PROPOSAL MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE, ESPECIALY HAVING TO COME
FROM SOMEONE YOU HAVE NOT MET BEFORE, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CO-OPERATE WITH ME SO
THAT THIS US$35M USD WILL BE RELEASED AND TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

MY NAME IS MR NELSON SMITH, THE CHAIRMAN OF CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE OF ESKOM PTY
LTD SOUTH AFRICA. IT IS MY PROFOUND INTENTION TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT
AND HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION FOR THE TRANSFER OF US$35,000,000,00 INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT .

THE US$35,000,000,00 WAS THE OVER ESTIMATED BALANCE FROM THE CONTRACTS AWARDED TO
BOTH FOREIGN AND LOCAL CONTRACTORS THE REAL CONTRACT VALUE WAS $120 MILLION DOLLARS
BUT IT WAS OVER ESTIMATED TO US$155,000,000,00(ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY).

THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULY EXECUTED BY THE CONTRACTORS AND THEIR CONTRACT SUM
OF (US$120M) HAS BEEN PAID TO THEM,LEAVING OUR OVER ESTIMATED BALANCE OF
(US$35,000,000,00) THIRTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS STILL PENDING AT THE
BANK.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LEFT WITH THIS OVER ESTIMATED BALANCE OF(US$35M) WHICH IS STILL
FLOATING AT THE ESCROW ACCOUNT IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK,AWAITING FINAL
PAYMENT TO ANY RELIABLE FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNT YOU MAY PROVIDE.I AM THEREFORE ASKING
YOU TO CO-OPERATE WITH ME SO THAT THE FUND WILL BE RELEASED AND TRANSFERRED INTO
YOUR ACCOUNT.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS MY PROPOSAL, REPLY ME SO THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE YOUR
PERCENTAGE BEFORE WE PROCEED.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE FUND IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT OVER THERE, I SHALL OBTAIN
VISA AND TRAVEL WITH MY FAMILY OVER THERE FOR MY OWN SHARE OF THIS MONEY IN THIS
REGARD,I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEND ME THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS THROUGH THE EMAIL
ADDRESS BELOW FOR SECURITY REASONS

YOUR NAME:
-----------------------------
YOUR OCCUPATION:
-----------------------------
YOUR ADDRESS:
-----------------------------
YOUR PRIVATE PHONE / FAX NUMBERS:

-----------

REGARDS,

MR NELSON SMITH.

KINDLY GET BACK TO ME ON MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS;nelsonsmith_7777@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources: