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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: "Dr Ali sidu" <dralisidu1@latinmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:00:55 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: GOOD DAY FROM DR ALI SIDU


FROM:DR .ALI SIDU.
BILL AND EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT,
BANK OF AFRICA(B.O.A),
OUAGADOUGOU,BURKINA-FASO.

DEAR FRIEND,

I KNOW THAT THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SUPRISE. I GOT YOUR CONTAC=
T=20
ADDRESS FROM THE INTERNET WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR A BUSINESS PARTNER.

MY NAME IS DR .ALI SIDU. I AM THE BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER OF BANK O=
F=20
AFRICA (B.O.A) ,OUAGADOUGUO BURKINA FASO.

IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF USD$25. MILLION (TWE=
NTY=20
FIVE MILLION U.S DOLLARS). IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS=20
TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDRE=
N IN=20
A PLANE CRASH IN A YEAR 2000 PLANE CRASH HAPPENED IN AMERICA .

SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, THE BANK HAVE BEEN EXPECTING =
HIS=20
NEXT OF KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE =
IT=20
UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE=20=

DECEASED, AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE L=
EARNT=20
THAT ALL HIS SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION DIED ALONGSIDE WITH HIM I=
N THE=20
PLANE CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM.

IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINES=
S=20
PROPOSALS TO YOU AND RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIO=
N TO=20
THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COM=
ING=20
FOR IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS=20=

UNCLAIMED BILL.

THE REQUEST OF FOREIGNER IN THIS TRANSACTION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OUR L=
ATE=20
CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A BURKINABE CANNOT STAND AS NEXT OF KIN TO=
A=20
FOREIGNER. I HAVE AGREED THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS FORE=
IGNER=20
PARTNER IN RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.10% WILL BE SE=
T=20
ASIDE
FOR EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE BUSINESS AND 60% WOULD BE FOR ME, AFTE=
R=20
WHICH I SHALL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT ACCORDING TO THE=20
PERCENTAGES INDICATED.


TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY.
YOURS SINCERELY,
DR .ALI SIDU .


=A1Vive la pasi=F3n del f=FAtbol! Toda la Copa Am=E9rica, en Starmedia =
http://pan.segundosfuera.com/copaamerica/

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