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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: maxim edward <maxim1edward30@msn.com>
Reply-To: <maximedward@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 14:45:21 +0000
Subject: Maxim Vincent Edward and Stella Vincent Edward.



Maxim Vincent Edward and Stella Vincent Edward.Church of God Mission,Abidjan,Cote D'ivoire.Tel/fax: 0022505861576.Abidjan Cote D'ivoire. Dear respectful one, Because of the political problem in this country, I urgy your urgent assistance. With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe you would be of great assistance to me and my sister.
Let me take a brief time out to introduce myself to you, I am Maxim Vincent Edward the only son of late Mr and Mrs Vincent Edward, a black farmer based in Zimbabwe who was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I decided to contact you through email, after searching for contacts through your country Embassy, as it is the only means I can contact anybody since I am cutting off ties with Zimbabwe for security and safety reasons. However, I apologize if this is not acceptable to you.
The purpose of this letter is to seek your most needed assistance in a business venture. Due to the land and political problems in Zimbabwe, as a result of President Robert Mugabe's introduction of new Land Act Reform wholly affecting the rich white farmers and the few rich black farmers, and his desire to hold on to power for life, my father forsaw the danger that came in Zimbabwe. Before he was murdered, He told me everything concerning the deposit he made with a bank in Cote D'Ivoire. In brief, I have the sum of ($ 16.000.000m usd )sixteen million us dollars which I want to invest in your country, these money was deposited by my late father in a bank here in cote d'ivoire; which I was made the beneficiary and next of kin as the only son of my parents. Because of the present situation in my country Zimbabwe, and when the danger became unbearable, and after I and my sister survived two murder attempts, my aged grand mother adviced me and my only sister to leave the country mmediately for security reasons,and also to look for a trust worthy and a reliable person who can assist me to transfer the money out of cote d'ivoire. Respectful one, I highly need your assistance in this areas,assist me claim the money from the bank, assist me transferring the money to your country and also investing it as I confide in you hoping that you will never betray me and my sister at last.
I and my sister has proposed (15%) percent of the total sum of the money for you, so as for you to give us all necessary assistance and protections we may need in your country. please treat highly confidential because our future depends on this money, all the vital documents covering the deposit of this money in the bank, are with me here in cote d'ivoire and will be faxed to you on demand. looking forward to hearing from you.Thanks and God bless you.Yours sincerely.Maxim Vincent Edward.

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