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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: MAJOR PAUL <majorpaulmartins11@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <majorpaulmartins@gawab.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 14:10:56 +0200
Subject: RE.GOOD DAY!!



HELLO, I REGRET ANY INITIAL EMBARRASSMENT THAT MY LETTER MIGHT CAUSE YOU.I DO NOT INTEND TO INVADE YOUR PRIVACY BY THIS MAIL OF WHICH I REALLY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS MATTER. I AM PAUL MARTINS OF THE BRITISH 4TH INFANTRY ARMY DIVISION TROOPS.IN RETROSPECT DURING OUR COMBINED FORCES WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARMY TO OUT STEAD THE BRUTAL REGIME OF SADDAM HUSSEIN IN IRAQ, OF WHICH DURING ONE OF OUR ROUTING SEARCH OF SADDAM HUSSEIN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN BAGDAD SOME OF MY COLLEAGUE AND I FOUND SOME BOXES CONTAINING MILLION OF DOLLARS IN SADDAM HUSSEIN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TO THE TUNE OF THIRTY FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.($35.5M).http://news.bbc..co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF THIS BOXES MY COLLEAGUE AND I CAREFULLY REMOVED THE BOXES TO A SAFE LOCATION OF WHICH WE NOW ARRANGED WITH A SECURITY COURIER FIRM WHOM NOW HELPED US IN SHIPPING THE BOXES OUT OF IRAQ TO EUROPE FOR SAFE KEEPING MARKED AS FILM AND FILM MATERIALS OF WHICH I HAVE DOCUMENTS TO THIS EFFECT SHOWING PROOF OF DEPOSIT.DUE TO THE CURRENT NATURE OF MY JOB IT BECOMES QUITE IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY COLLEAGUE AND I TO CLAIM THIS MONEY,HENCE WE SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCES . I AM THEREFORE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE COME TO OUR AID IN GETTING THIS MONEY OUT FROM THE SECURITY COURIER FIRM FOR US, FOR ONWARD INVESTMENT OF THE MONEY INTO VARIOUS BUSINESS AS ADVISED BY YOU.I AM CONTACTING YOU IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO EACH OTHER.YOU WILL BE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED FOR THIS. I WOULD ADVISE THAT THIS MATTER BE TREATED IN CONFIDENCE. PLEASE DO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME ON RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL THROUGH MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND ALSO INCLUDE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT WE CAN AS WELL SPEAK TO EACH OTHER TO FACILITATE QUICK TRANSACTION OF THIS PROJECT. I LOOK FORWARD TO A MUTUAL BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.REGARDS,MAJOR PAUL MARTINS.
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