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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: "mith mrs" <mithmrs9@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:38:13 +0800
Subject: GOOD DAY DEAR....


Dear Sir/Madam,



I am writing you from Cotonou, republic of Benin. I work in a bank here and
there is a sum of $7.5M floating in a dormant account that belongs to one of
our late customer who died alongside with his younger brother in the crash
of December, 2003.

www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/


I will like this money to be transfered into your account as the next of
"KIN" of the deceased customer because the money will automatically go into
government treasury at the end of this year if the money still remeans here.
Reply this mail while I furnish you on how this will work out.



Reply me here please.

Email: mrsmith166@yahoo.com.hk<http://us.f431.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mrsmith166@yahoo.com.hk>



Yours faithfully,
Mr. Smith Damida

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