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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: "Mrs. Richie" <mrsrichie12@aol.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:54:04 -0600
Subject:


I am Mrs. Richie,

Am working with a Security company here in Amsterdam the Netherlands
(Holland) as vault's inspector, few weeks ago, while taking inventories of
the items in our vault, to my surprise I came across a metallic box which
had been left there for a long period of time. I was able to open the box
only to discover that the box contained hundred bills of United States
Dollars which amount to 15 million USD as being indicated on the certificate
of ownership that I saw inside the box. Right now as I am writing to you,
the said box is still in the vault unclaimed.

As at this moment, I am the only one who knows about the content of this
box, as the box was originally deposited with the company as a none
inspected consignment containing family valuables,
I humbly seek your assistance for the claim of this box as the owner;
please do let me know if you are willing for this proposal, so that I will
immediately make the change of the ownership to your name before the onward
claims.

Our sharing ratio will be 70/30, I want to assure you that this transaction
is risk free and I would like you to keep everything confidential until we
succeeded in bringing the box out. For more inquiries feel free to ask, via
email; mrsrichie11@aol.co.uk, Tel: +31 619 785 294
Please always bear in mind that this suggestion is free from risk, and I
have been making effort to see that my dream comes true.
Hoping to hearing from you soon, for security reasons, until we establish
the trust and work with one accord because that is where I put all my life
hope to become a public figure, I believe, that was the way God wanted to
change my life after years of suffering with the company.

Remain bless, till I hear from you.

Mrs. Agnes Rich



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