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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: "Unknown." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zb.mk@jmail.co.za>
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:58:08 +0100
Subject: Attn:

Attn:

I am a Manager of a bank in South Africa.I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

A Gold Dealer made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit, valued at US$32,000,000.00 (Thirty-Two Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder his forwarding address but go response.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that HE did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$32,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to HIM(THE LATE OWNER) so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.The money will be paid into your account for us to share.

Please send me an mail with further information about yourself before we proceed further. Awaiting your urgent reply via my email[ZB.MK@JMAIL.CO.ZA]

Thanks and regards.

Mr.....

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