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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 JOHNSON <johnsontokwas@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: tokwas_johnson@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:30:13 +0800 (CST)
Subject: BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP


ATTENTION THE C.E.O

DEAR SIR,
I AM MR JOHNSON TOKWAS OF THE NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CO-PORATION (N.N.P.C) . I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH MY SEARCH FROM THE INTERNET,WHICH INDUCED ME TO WRITE AND SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE TO CONCLUDE A PENDING TRANSACTION FOR OUR COMMON BENEFIT. THIS TRANSACTION IS THE TRANSFER OF $50.5MILLION. THIS MONEY IN QUESTION REPRESENT A SURPLUS UNDER EXPENDITURE IN OUR MINISTRY'S AUDITED ACCOUNT FOR THE
PAST FIVE PRECEDING YEARS ARISING FROM DELIBERATION
OVER-INVOICING IN SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE OF OIL WELLS
AND SOME TURN AROUND MENTANCE(T.A.M) WHICH HAVE BEEN
DULY EXECUTED AND THE SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN PAID, $118
MILLION BEING FULL VALUE OF THE CONTRACT. THE BALANCE
OF $50.5MILLION IS OVER-INVOICED PORTION BELONGING TO
OFFICIALS THAT PUT THIS TRANSACTION .THIS MONEY IS REFLECTING IN OUR MINISTRY CURRENT BUDGET AS DUE FOR PAYMENT IN THIS LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. I HEREBY SOLICIT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND CO-OPERATION IN ENSURING THAT THIS MONEY WILL BE SAVE IF TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, INDICATE BY SENDING ME AN E-MAIL ONLY. REMEMBER ALL INFORMATION SHOULD REMAIN
CODED,THIS BUSINESS WILL NEED URGENT ATTENTION . IF THIS MONEY REMAIN UNCLAIMED IT WILL RECALLED BACK TO THE CREDIT SUSPENCE BALANCE ACCOUNT OF THE FERATION. FOR RENDERING THESE SERVICES FOR ME, WE HAVE RESOLVED AND AGREED THAT YOU WILL BE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED FOR EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED BOTH LOCALLY AND TERNATIONALLY IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION, WHILE THE REMAINING WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
SINCERELY YOURS,
MR JOHNSON TOKWAS


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