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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: M <gtmailjohn@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: gtmail_jo@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 18:27:13 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Good morning,


Good morning,
I want to drop you a quick note because I did not hear back from you concerning the information I sent you the other day. Incase you did not receive the letter introducing my intent I am Mrs Maria stevens a swedish,my meeting with Mr David Stevens in south africa led us into marriage. my husband Mr David stevens who is now late farmer and exporter of Tobacco in the Republic of zimbabwe,he was shot dead allegedly by ZANU-PF supporters in zimbabwe on 25th of april 2000 in the farm.You can confirm this by copying and pasting this link on your internet browser.or click on it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/725643.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/818766.stm

Before the death of my husband, he deposited the sum of US$14 Million (Fourteen Million United States Dollars) in a Finance Company here in Cape Verde as family valuables, when he realized the looming danger in Zimbabwe.

This amount was meant for the purchase of new machineries and chemicals for the farms.This land dispute started when President Robert Mugabe introduced a new land reforms, which was particularly targeted at the rich white farmers and a few black farmers (my husband included).This resulted in the gruesome killing of rich farmers (mainly whites) and the unlawful possession of their properties by President Mugabe's war veterans, under the disguise of fighting for the interest of the country. It is against this background that I fled the country , to Cape Verde where I am currently seeking asylum.

I have decided to seek foreign assistance, as the Cape Verde law prohibits asylum seekers from operating bank accounts or involve in financial transaction
of any kind, hence this letter to you.

All I need is your trustworthiness to be able to entrust the above said amount and help me with investment opportunities. My family's survival depends on this money as we have virtually lost all our assets.
We shall discuss in detail the modalities involved when you reply providing me with your telephone & fax numbers.
I await your reply through my email. while I implore you to maintain the absolute secrecy required to ensure a safe and hitch free transaction.

I shall furnish you with more details on request.
Yours truly
Mrs Stevens



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