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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: Collins Washington <mrs.emeka@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 21:15:34 GMT
Subject: Dear Comrade.

Dear Comrade.
With trust and gratitude I faithfully contact you, I know this letter will
definitely come to you as a huge surprise, but I implore you to take the time to go
through it carefully as the decision you make will go of a long way to determine my
future and continued existence.
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am US Army Lance Corporal Collins Washington
014 Marine Expeditionary of Multinational Division Center in Iraq and the 10th Mountain Division, serving in the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment which controls the Camp Bah aria in Fallujah, Iraq.
I am desperately in need of assistance and I have summoned up courage to contact
you. I am presently in Iraq and I decided to contact you. I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of $10,500,000 (Ten million Five Hundred US dollars) to the States or any safe country of
your choice, as far as I can be assured that it will be safe in your care until I complete my service here. This is no stolen money and there are no dangers involved.
Clarity on the root of this money, Some money in various currencies was discovered
and concealed in barrels with piles of weapons and ammunition at a location near one
of Saddam Hussein's old Presidential Palaces during a rescue operation and it was
agreed by all party present that the money be shared amongst. This might appear as
an illegal thing to do but I tell you what, No compensation can make up for the
risks we have taken with our lives in this hell hole.
The above figure was given to me as my share and to conceal this kind of money
became a problem for me, so with the help of a British contact working with the UN
here (his office enjoys some immunity) I was able to get the package out to a safe
location and secured storage entirely out of trouble spot. He does not know the
real contents of the package as he believes that it belongs to an American who died
in an air raid, and before giving up trusted me to hand over the package to his
family.
I need to get the package out before it's too late, for I do not know for how long
I will remain here or survive it as I have been lucky to have survived Two (2) suicide
bomb attacks by Pure Divine intervention of God. This and other reasons put into
consideration have prompted me to reach out for help. If it might be of interest to
you then Endeavor to contact me through this my email addresss. Your share will be 20% of the fund while 80% will be for me. We would work out the necessary formalities but I pray that you are discreet about this mutually benefiting relationship.
This news page contains information's about my proposal and i will want you to view
and keep my proposal confidential.
Am waiting for your reply so that I can furnish you with more details.
Respectfully Yours,
Corporal Collins Washington .
United States Marine Corps. IRAQ

 

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