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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: "From: Mr. Johnson Adams" <dddddd123@att.net>
Reply-To: johnsonadams303@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:58:13 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From: Mr. Johnson Adams




From: Mr. Johnson Adams



Phone: +27 787820040



Email: pro_adawilliams@hotmail.com



ATTN: THE PRESIDENT



REQUEST FOR A CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP



Firstly, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction. I am a high placed official working for the Department of Mineral & Energy, in Johannesburg, South Africa. I and two other colleagues are currently in need of a silent foreign partner whose identity we can use to transfer the sum of $142, 000,000(One Hundred and Fourty Two Million United States Dollars). This fund accrued legitimately to us as a commission from foreign contracts, through our private connections.



The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from One Of Local Bank here in South Africa to any overseas beneficiary confirmed by us as associate/receiver. By virtue of our positions as civil servants in my country, we cannot acquire this money in our names. Because as high servants, we are not allowed by the civil service Code of Conduct to own or operate bank accounts outside of our shores. On the other hand, it is not safe for us to keep the money here due to the unstable political environment.



I have been mandated as a matter of trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who could work with us to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual benefit hence the reason for this email.



What I’m requesting from you is (1) to be our silent partner and receive the funds as the sole benefactor to the contract amount of which we shall secure all legal documentation to authenticate our claim. (2) Provide a private telephone and fax number for easy communication under our control. (3) Receive the funds as the beneficiary and take out your commission and keep the rest of the money until I arrive there to meet you after the transfer is completed.



My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as follows: (1) 15% to you as a commission for your co-operation, and assistance in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 85% belongs to me and two other colleagues. You will be free to take out your commission immediately after the money hits your country. Since our objective is to invest the money in a foreign country, we would appreciate if you could also advise and direct us on investing into profitable/lucrative ventures in your country for an additional 5%.



However, this is optional, and if it is not convenient for you to further assist us, with investing the money, we can end our cooperation after you make available to us the part of our money.



The transaction although discreet, is legitimate and the money will be transferred successfully with all necessary backup official documents showing legitimate source/origin of the fund. The transfer will take place within a period of not longer than two weeks as soon as we reach an agreement and you furnish me with suitable response indicating your interest in processing the transfer. I plead with you on one issue, whether you are interested or not, kindly do not expose this information to anyone else.



I confirm that the transaction is legitimate and without any risks either to us or yourself, please give me your response immediately by returning the mail through my alternate email.



Yours Faithfully,



Mr.Johnson Adams.

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