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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: "Ms.Ruth Madoff" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 17:28:23 +0100
Subject: Re Confidential Business Proposal-?

Mrs. Ruth Madoff
West, Liverpool,
London.
 
 
My Great Compliments,
 
I’m Mrs. Ruth Madoff, 67, wife to Mr. Bernard L. Madoff, of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, who pleaded guilty to operating a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme, is worth up to $826 million, according to a document filed with a federal court on Friday 13th March 2009.
 
Just last 2Month my husband pleading stealing billions from investment from his clients and he was ordered to jail Thursday 12th March 2009, after pleading guilty to all 11 criminal counts in one of Wall Street's biggest swindles.
 
Now the Federal investigators in the USA are working around the clock to freeze all my assets, fearing that I'm trying to flee the country which I have done shortly after my husband was sentenced, I have $93 million in my name beyond their reach.
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission is working with federal prosecutors in Manhattan to prepare a filing asking a judge to formally freeze all of my assets as soon as possible.
 
My husband deposited the sum of (USD$25.000.000.00 Million) in a Finance Firm in Europe some years ago in my name, I need you to collect this funds and distribute it to both of us since the Federal investigators are working around the clock to freeze all my assets. Meanwhile all documents related to transfer of this fund to your account is with the bank
 
Presently, I’m in a hard out here in UK as the Federal investigators as well the Securities and Exchange Commission is looking for me to freeze my entire asset as well prosecute me like my husband.
 
Please reply back to me on this e-mail as I will like if you contact my bank directly so that he will direct you on the way forward. Please due send to me all your contact details as I will like to speak with you before we commence on the transaction.
 
 
Please Keep this transaction secret and confidentail for now. You can read my story on this website:
 
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03152009/news/regionalnews/ruth_in_crosshair_159631.htm
 
 
God bless you.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Ruth Madoff
 
 
 

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