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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: "peter_7x7@yahoo.co.uk" <johnbenie@gmail.com>
Reply-To: peter_7x7@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:53:14 +0200
Subject: From :Mr JOHN BENIE


*From :Mr JOHN BENIE
Auditor ,
Bank Of Africa Cotonou, Benin -Republic.*

*Dear Friend.

Due to Recapitalisation/Merger excercise,a complete auditing of all
departments of our bank was to be carried out,so before this I did my own
home work.During my pre general auditing,I discovered that the dormant
account which belonged to Late Mr Moris Andrews,a deceased customer,who died
on 28th October 2005 in a plane crash along with his immediate family
members is still unclaimed.This fund has been lying dormant in this account
with this bank without any claim from either his family or relations for
over two years now.

The money is in total of U.S $3.3 M (Three Million Three Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars),when the account became dormant.There is presently a
secret plan by the board of directors to declare the money abandoned or
unclaimed and have it(the money) converted to government treasury.But this,I
must tell you is a smoke screen.They want to share the money among
themselves.Since nobody came forward for it in two years they believe they
can convert it to their own.So I need your assistance for the money to be
salvaged from these men (members of board)

For this money to be transfered successfully I need a second party like you
who is a foreigner and can present claims over this fund, as the next of kin
to the deceased customer.You can apply as a cousin,since his nominated next
of kin died in the crash also.

When we conclude this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% while 60%
will be for me. I will ensure that the processing of the claim is not
hindered in the bank.I wait for your mail.

Please supply me these details when you reply:

Your full names...................................................
Address...............................................................
Tel/fax.................................................................
Age......................................................................
Occupation...........................................................
Marital Status.......................................................

Yours Sincerely

Mr. JOHN BENIE
0022-993-2047-85
*

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