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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: "williams susan" <alfaroukwsuzy08@gmail.com>
Reply-To: will2008suzy@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:42:35 +0000
Subject: From: Williams and Suzan/Appeal for Assistance!!!.


From: Williams and Suzan/Appeal for Assistance!!!.

Dearest One,

We are williams and Suzan Alfarouk from Sierra Leone.We are writing you from
Rep. of Cote 'Ivoire where we have been taking refuge after the brutal war
and murder of our perants by the rebels during the renewed fighting in our
country. Because of the war our late Father sold his shipping company and
took us to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited US$18, 300,
000.00 Million in his foreign account with one of the Bank here in Cote
d'Ivoire. Please, we got your contact through Search and due to the courrent
political sutuation in Ivory Coast we are seeking for your assistance to
transfer this Money and also relocate to your country to further our study
and we are willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for your help. Please,
Kindly contact us for further details.

Best Regard,

Williams and Suzan.

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