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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: "JOHN MAX" <john_max585@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: john_max586@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 18:09:36 +0000
Subject: SECOND NOTICE

THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to
the total sum of £10,600,000.00GBP (Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand
British Pounds) in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name
now withheld since this is our second letter to you). We contacted you
because you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as
the beneficiary to the inheritance.

We therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed in
your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you
kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone
and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary
documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum
of money.

Please contact me via my private email so that we can get this done
immediately.
Kind regards,
Mr John Max,







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