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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: Hamid Usman <hamid_usman68@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: hamidusman20ty@sfax.ws
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:59:55 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: HOW ARE YOU.


DEAR SIR,

I AM THE GROUP DIRECTOR,FEDERAL ENERGY COMISSION, I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL BE OF IMMENSE ASSISTANCE TO ME IN THIS BUSSINESS OF MUTAUL BENEFITS.

I HAVE THE SUM OF TWENTY EIGHT MILLION USD ($28M) DEPOSITED WITH A FINANCE BANK OVERSEAS AND .I WISH TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY:HENCE I AM SOLICITING FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN A JOINT VENTURE BUSINESS.THEREFORE I SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE TO WORK WITH ME TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDS INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AS THE BENEFICIARY.

YOU WILL INVEST, MANAGE, AND OVERSEE THE INVESTIEMNTS UNTIL I RETIRE FROM ACTIVE SERVICE. THIS FUNDS IS ACCRUED FROM OVER INVOICED AND INFLATED CONTRACT EXECUTED BY FORIEGN CONTRACTORS IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHS IN THE MINISTRY.

THE ACTAUL AMMOUNT IS ($28M) THE OVER-INVOICED DIFFERENCE,AND THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT HAS BEEN PAID.

I WILL USE MY OFFICIAL POSITION TO SECURE ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND PLACE YOU AS THE BONAFIDE CONTRACTOR, AND THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERED TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. I WILL SEND TO YOU ALL THE RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND GIVE YOU ALL THE CONTACTS REQUIRED FOR THE FUNDS TO GET INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

IF YOU ACCEPT THIS TRANSACTION AND WISH TO WORK WITH ME
PLEASE DO SEND TO ME THE FOLLOWING.

1.YOUR FULL NAMES AND YOUR FULL ADDRESS
2. YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS
3.YOUR DETAILED BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATIONS WHERE YOU WILL LIKE TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS.

ALSO I ADVSISE YOU KEEP THIS TRANSACTION CONFIDENTAIL TO PROTECT MY POSITION IN OFFICE,THOUGH THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% FREE ON YOUR SIDE AND MINE.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR HAMID USMAN.


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