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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: "Mr. Micheal Bond" <michealbond_eis@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:00:06 +0100
Subject: Attention Please !!!

The Chairman/Managing Director,

Sir,
My name is Mr Micheal Bond. I am resident in Germany. I am also a sales manager in a
private equity firm here. My company is mandated to source for reliable individuals
or firms seeking venture capital for their businessess or projects. This is why I am
making this contact.

Our venture capital is from institutional private and public pension funds, endowments,
foundations and individuals who seek to diversify their portfolio. The pool is close to
two billion US dollars. Depending on your experience and the proposal you will forward
to us, we will determine a suitable amount to remit to you to kick off the business you
intend to invest in. You will manage this business without interference for a period of
seven years, after which, the profit after taxation will be shared in an agreed ratio.
The investment areas is not limited as we have investments in various industry sectors,
various geographic sectors and in various stages in a company's life. This may include
new businessess (early stage investing) or injection of funds into an existing firm
(expansion stage investing) that, of course, has the potential of making profit. Bearing
in mind that you are not authorised to invest in public companies or government agencies,
you can incorporate a firm fully owned by you based on the laws of your country and we
will provide the seed investment. You can equally export and import goods as may be
profitable.

A due dilligence must be conducted on your project as we have to look at several hundred
opportunities before investing in those with favourable IRR. You will be required to meet
with us to finalise arrangements on how to move the agreed funds into your account and
sign related documents that will authorise you to manage this money on our behalf. A draft
agreement which will finetune all gray areas and ensure a smooth take off will be forwarded
to you upon approval of your proposal.

Please reply to this mail and I will forward more information to you. All we need is to
assertain your credibility, resourcefullness and experience. Send your reply to :-
michealbond_mxe@yahoo.de

I earnestly await your response.
Regards,
Micheal


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