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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: miwilliams@zipmail.com.br
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 13:14:03 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Get=20back=20to=20me=20urgently?=

FRIEND,

I am a consultant based in Republic of Benin.It gives me the responsibility
and keen interest in contacting you.

I have a client a widow who have some fund with a private equity trust company
for safe keeping only. She wishes to invest in a stable economy.

Her interest is in companies with potentials for rapid growth in long terms.

My client is interested in using part of her fund under your advise,if your
country's laws allows it.You have the right to come and know all the references
of the offer (origin of the fund, the authors of the offer) and all other
necessary
references concerning this transfer for you to be fully assured.

I will be sincerely pleased to recognize your signature on this partnership.

I want you to contact me on my private Email:
miwilliams@gawab.com

I am looking forward to your urgent response.

Yours in service,
Mike Willaims.






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