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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: John Edward <john_us7@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <john_03_04_us@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:44:44 +0100
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANT PLEASE.



DR.JOHN EDWARDPLOT999F IDEJO/DANMOLE STREET,VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOSEmail: {edwardj_008john@hotmail.com} Dear Friend, I do hope the letter will not come to you as a surprise. It was borne out of my desire to share a mutual business Relationship with you. My name is Dr.John Edward, 42yrs, a Secretary, Nigerian national married with a wife and four children. I work as an administrative Secretary to SECURITY AND SERVICES LTD.in Nigeria. I got the information concerning you from the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and after due consultation with my spiritual adviser, I decided to contact you believing that by the grace of God, you will accept to be my partner in this business. I earn a salary of N45 000 – 350 USD equivalent monthly. I joined the services of this company in 1991 as an office assistant. I have been working with this company for 16 years. Within this period, I have watched with meticulous precision how African Heads of States and government functionaries have been using SECURITIES to move huge sums of money USD, Pound Sterling, French France – (Cash) to their foreign partners. They bring in these consignments of money cash and secretly declare the contents as gold, diamond, precious stones, family treasure, documents etc. Gen. Sani Abacha of Nigeria (dead), Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (dead) Foday Sankoy of Siera– Leone. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd.) of Nigeria etc. All these people have Hundreds of consignments deposited with SECURITIES. Their foreign partners, Friends and relatives, are claiming most of these consignments. A lot of them are lying here unclaimed for as much as 15 yrs. No body may ever come for them because in most cases, the documents of deposit are never available to any body except the depositors most of them dead. Since the inception of the 2000 millennium,SECURITIES MANAGEMENT changed the procedure of claims of consignments. As soon as you are able to produce all the secret information as contained in the secret file of any consignment, it will be released to you upon demand. From our record, more than 120 consignments belonging to Gen Abacha / Mobutu Sese Seko, has been claimed in the past sixteen months. This is why I am soliciting for your co-operation and assistance. Late Gen. Abacha has 85 consignments deposited with several names and codes. 35 have been claimed in the past sixteen months. Since he’s dead, his first son is dead in a plane crash, the second son is facing trial for murder and embezzlement and the family members are under restricted arrest without communication. I have finished every arrangement for you to come and claim consignment No 1201 containing USD 62m. My duty is to supply you with all the information and documents by fax or Email. You will deal directly with the management. The procedure is simple: - You will apply officially to the Director of Operations of SECURITIES for the release of consignment No 1201, They will demand some documents and secret codes. You will then get back to me; I’ll supply you with every detailed information. Fax or email it to them. As soon as they are confirmed it correct. They will invite you for the collection. If you do not want to come to Nigeria, you can arrange with them to transfer the consignment to anywhere on agreement. No body will ever know I am involved in the deal except the Lawyer who will write an agreement for us.I’ll suggest upon conclusion we share 40% for you–50% for me and 10 will be map out for eny expenses that may come upfront. At the successful conclusion of the deal, you’ll arrange for me and my family to come over to your country for sharing. I assure you that the business have been hatched for 5 Years now, it is very secure and risk free. You can get back to me on same e-mail address for further Explanations and directives on the procedure. Always email me your response on my private email: (edwardj_008john@hotmail.com) God Bless you.Dr.John Edward
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