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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: Mrs Smith <karen_smith_005@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrsbooyk001@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:09:58 +0000
Subject: FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.



FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.COULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER TO HELP ME TO RELOCATE THIS SUM OF FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS (US$5million) TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR ESTABLISHING A MEDIUM SIZE INDUSTRY IN YOUR COUNTRY.THE SAID $5 MILLION DOLLARS WAS DEPOSITED IN OUR BANK BY LATE Dr.GEORGE BRUMLEY AN AMERICA CITIZEN WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN 2003.WE HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO COME FORWARD FOR CLAIMS BUT COULD NOT SUCCEED. WE DISCORVERED THAT THE LATE AMERICAN DIED ALONG SIDE WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS NEXT OF KIN.website for your perusal http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.htmlI WILL GIVE YOU ALL VITAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE AMERICAN AND THE 5 MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR CUSTODY SO THAT YOU WILL CONTACT MY BANK FOR THEM TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU.YOU CAN COME HERE IN PERSON OR YOU CAN REQUEST THE BANK TO GIVE YOU THE CONTACT OF THE BANK LAWYER'S WHO CAN REPRESENT YOUR INTREST IN THE TRANSFER PROCESS. I AM ONE OF THE BANK DIRECTORS, I WILL PLAY A ROLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 5 MILLION DOLLARS IS RELEASED TO YOU.AS SOON AS I RECIEVE YOUR REPLY, I WILL GIVE YOU AN INSTRUCTION ON WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. I ENJOIN YOU TO KEEP THIS CONFIDENTIALYOURS FAITHFULL MRS K. SMITHCONTACT ME ON MY PRIVATE EMAILmrsbooyk001@yahoo.com.hk

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