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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: "john mugu" <johnmugu1@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 15:50:27 +0100
Subject: From.Mrs.Elizebeth Dona John Mugu, please help me


CREDIT TRANSFER AND INVESTMENT
Email:( elizebeth_dona2@yahoo.fr )

Dear Friend,

Permit me to inform you of my desire to do business with you with my money.I
am a 42 years old business woman from Siera-Leone in west Africa.I am glad
to inform you that I inherited a total sum of $11.1 million US dollars
(eleven million one hundred thousand USD) from my late husband Chief John
Mugu, a gold and diamond dealer who was murdered early last year by the
former Liberian president Mr Charles Taylor over the dispute in their
diamond and gold deal.

This money which is concealled in 2 trunk boxes is deposited in a safe
deposit company here in Cotonou, Republic of Benin where I am presently
taking refuge with my two kids.The content of the 2 boxes was declared as
family treasure not money for security reasons.That is to say that the
deposit company does not know that the suitcase contain money.This was done
under a high powered government conection because the former president of
this country Mr Mathieu kerekou is a family friend.Your assistance is now
sought in the transfer of this money to you country for investment into any
lucrative business of your choice.

By this mail, you are requested to visit me here for familiarisation and to
enable us arrange on how to get this suitcase out from the deposit company
and transfer this money into your account in your country after which I will
go back with you.But if you can not come down here then the deposit company
can arrange and bring it to you in your country under their diplomatic
coverage system just the same way it was brought from my country to this
place.You will be required to send me your picture to enable me know the
person that I am dealing with.I will send mine too. For rendering this
service you will be highly compensated, a situation that will be discussed
later.

I want you to take this transaction very serious because it will benefit
both of us.We must act fast because it cost me $100 daily as demurage to the
deposit company
keeping this suitcase and the earlier we remove it from there the better for
us.This is not scam please.I know about scam because my late husband was a
victim before his death.Looking forward to your reply at your earliest
convinience.God bless.

Your full name;...............................
Your address:.................................
Your country:.................................
Your age:.........................................
Your occupation:.................................
Your Phone number:.............................

Best regards,
Mrs.Elizebeth Dona John Mugu
+00229 -97-6718-77
Reply to Email:( elizebeth_dona2@yahoo.fr )

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