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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: marvin_robinson@universia.cl
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 06:41:35 +0100
Subject: CONSIDER MY URGENT REQUEST


*CONSIDER MY URGENT REQUEST*
*ATTN: CEO*
**
*I AM SORRY TO ENCROACH INTO YOUR PRIVACY IN THIS MANNER; MEANWHILE I AM
CONTACTING YOU FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE YOU DID NOT RESPOND IN MY FIRST
EMAIL SENT TO YOU.*

*I AM INTERESTED IN THE PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT PROGRAM WITH YOUR
CORPORATION. *
**
*FIRST PERMIT ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS SECRETARY TO MINISTER; AHMED MUSA
AND MY NAME IS MR MARVIN ROBINSON*
*MINISTRE DE LA CONSTRUCTION OF WESTERN SAHARA STATE IN *
*THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (A TINY ISLAND DESERT).*
**
*BEING THE EXECUTIVE MINISTER OF MY STATE. HE AWARDED THE CONTRACT OF
IRRIGATION TO PORTUGUESE FIRM WORTHY SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IN THE
EXECUTION OF THAT PROJECT THE (PORTUGUESE FIRM) DISCOVERED LARGE AMOUNT OF
GOLD IN ONE OF THE CONTRACT SITE.*

*HE COLLABORATED WITH THE PORTUGUESE FIRM ON A MUTUAL AGREEMENT ON THE
PROCEED OF WHICH HE WILL HAVE RECEIVED HIS SHARE OF 25.8 MUSD.*

*AS THE MINISTER, HE CANNOT INTRODUCE OR CIRCULATE THESE FUNDS INTO THE
WESTERN SAHARA BANKING SYSTEM CONSIDERING HIS PROVISIONAL DUTY AND THE
CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT HE EARN LESS THAN $1,000 USDOLLARS MONTHLY COUPLED
WITH THE BUREAU OF CONDUCT GUIDE LINES AND REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC CIVIL
SERVANTS.*
**
*THE ABOVE SITUATION PROMPTED THAT I AS SECRETARY HAVE THE INFORMATION TO
GET THIS MONEY OUT OF THE COUNTRY WITHOUT HIS CONCEPT, MY DECISION TO
SOLICIT YOUR CO-OPERATION TO TAKE DELIVERY OF THIS FUNDS INTO YOUR CUSTODY
FOR MY PROPOSED INVESTMENT BASED ON THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO LIVE THE COUNTRY
IMMEDIATELY THIS MONEY IS BEEN CONFIRMED BY YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY OR ANY *
*COUNTRY OF YOUR CHOICE, AS YOU WILL BE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED WITH $
7.500,000 MILLIONS WHICH IS THE 30% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS.*
* *
*I WILL ARRANGE ALL NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN ENSURING A SMOOTH PROCESS FOR
THE FUNDS TO GET TO YOU.*

*I WILL APPRECIATE YOU CONTACT ME ONCE YOU RECEIVE THIS FAX VIA MY SATELLITE
PHONE ABOVE INDICATING YOUR CAPABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO ENABLE ME TO GIVE
YOU MORE DETAILS OF MY MODUS OPERANDI OF GETTING THIS MONEY *
*TO YOU HITCH FREE.*

*THIS MATTER REQUIRES YOUR URGENT ATTENTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY WHATEVER
YOUR DECISION.*
*YOUR SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY YOU FINISH READING THIS LETTER WITH THE
INFORMATION
BELOW.
1) YOUR HOME AND OFFICE ADDRESS....
2) YOUR OCCUPATION ............
3) YOUR AGE............
4) YOUR PRIVET TELEPHONE NUMBER...........
5) YOUR NATIONALITY................*
*IF INSTERETED OR NOT PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THIS E-MAIL ADDRES *
marvin_robinson@universia. cl <marvin_robinson@universia.cl>

*BEST REGARDS,*
**
*MR MARVIN ROBINSON*

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