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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: latty lattytoy <latty_toy.s.l@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:49:41 +0200
Subject: INVESTOR




LATTY TOYS S.A
MR cont:latty_toy.s.a hushmail.com
I HUMBLY APPLY ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT. AS A
MATTER OF CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT


DEAR/

I WILL LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY SELF TO YOU FIRST. MY NAME IS MR.JOHN TERRY OCCUPATION MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LATTY TOYS S.A I AM 45 YEARS OLD. TO PAY OFF OUR CREDITORS, AS WE ARE A PRIVATE COMPANY LATTY TOYS S.A. HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 29 YEARS AND OUR INDUSTRY REPUTATION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR OPTIONS IS INVESTORS

FACT SHE IS ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE AND TRUST WORTHY COMPANY TO INVEST AND LEGELIZE HER FUND. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION. MRS SUSANA M MARIA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT
THANKS.

MR LAWRENCE GOZALEZ
MANAGING DIRECTOR






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