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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: "heline edward555" <heline_edward555@latinmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 17:49:41 +0100 (CET)
Subject: From Miss Heline Edward


Hello,=20
I ,Got your Contacts through the Investment,Business site on my search =
for Investment assistance,Pls Exercise a little patience and read throu=
gh as my English might not be Clear to your Understanding.

I inherited a huge amount of money from my late father,I wrote you inor=
der to solicite for your help and assistance with hope you will underst=
and my situation. My name is Miss Heline Edward .I am 21 years old from=
Cote d'Ivoire in west Africa,now seeking refuge in Cote d'Ivoire under=
the Unite Nation High Commission For Refugees (UNHCR).But right now i =
have a Lawyer who have harboured me to stay with His family Untill this=
transaction is over.

My (late) father Dr. David joel Edward ,was the managing director J & D=
Oil company in (MONROVIA) Cote d'Ivoire. But he was killed along side =
with my senior brother during the longing civil war by rebels and all o=
ur properties was totally destroyed.=20
However,after their death and burial I managed to escape with a very im=
portant document (Deposit Certificate) of ($3Million) three million US =
Dollars.

this document indicated me as the Next of Kin .Mean while,I am saddled =
with the problem of securing a trust worthy foriegn personality,Company=
,Industry or an organisation to help me transfer and Invest the money o=
ver to his/her country with the intention of investing it in a business=
under his/her directives and supervisstions,because I have no knowledg=
e of investment.and more over the condition of Depossiting it is for In=
vestment outside Africa for Security and Political Reasons Best Known t=
o him.

Please if you are so kind as to assist me, I shall send to you all vita=
l informations for your confirmation regarding the financial house wher=
e the fund was lodged. I am giving you this 20% of the total Money this=
offers as mentioned with every confidence on your acceptance to assist=
me as your daughter ,and also i will be coming to your Country as soon=
as the money arrives to you,so you will have to make an arrangment for=
an Authentic letter of Invitation for me.

I will be happy to hear from you. you can also Reach me through the Law=
yer family house phone,00225 03013893.any one that take the call just l=
et him or her know that you wanted to speack with Miss Heline Edward.
God Bless you as you consider my plead.=20
Vivian Nana,=20

Las m=E1s bellas del planeta, en Miss Mundo 2007 http://www.starmedia.c=
om/entretenimiento/especiales/misses.html

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