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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: "CHRISTOPHER MARCHANT"<christopherc67@excite.com>
Reply-To: mr_chris326@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:43:31 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: A matter of importance..................am waiting for your reply


Dear ,I am Mr Christopher Marchant, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr Morris Rayburn, a businessman in London.On the 20th of June 2002, my client, his wife and their two children were involved in a car accident in which all occupants of the vehicle died. My client deposited as family elongings in a Bank in London, the sum of 17 Million United States Dollars, with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave. Since his death I have made several attempt to locate any of my clients extended relatives, but this attempt so far has been successful. I am contacting you to assist in repartrating the money left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared serviceable by the Bank where the deposit was made. The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the money confisicated within the next Fourteen official working days.Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now. I seek
your consent to present you as the beneficiary of the fund since you bear same last name with him. All legal documents to aid your claim for this fund and to prove your relationship with the deceased will be arranged for. Your help will be appreciated with 30% of the total sum. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this letter if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you. However, if you do please include your phone and fax number in your response for better communication. God bless you and your family. Best regards, Mr Christopher Marchant

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