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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: "Elaine Elliott" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <daughterofdestiny1@gala.net>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 09:24:40 -0300
Subject: Without Prejudice...Your Ref: 189.20.49.115

Hello dear,
My name is Mrs. Elaine Elliott I am 62 years old. I got your contact from America Online directory and picked you randomly for this project. I wish you and your family a happy peaceful prosperous New Year.
I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you for charity/ motherless babies/less privileged especially in Somalia , Malawi and other poor African countries. I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for good work of God. I have asked God to forgive me and believe he has because he is a merciful God. I have less than two weeks to live.
I decided to WILL/donate the sum of US$9.7 Million Dollars to you for the good work of God, and also to help the motherless and less privilege people in that part of the world . At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relatives (That have squandered the funds I gave them for this purpose before) are around me and my health status also.
My lawyer is aware of the fact that I will adjust my WILL. As soon as you get back to me with your name and address, telephone and fax number, I will forward the deposit Certificate to you so that you can contact the China Citic Bank in China where the $9.7M is deposited and instruct them to immediately remit the fund to your bank account.My Lawyer is desirous of handling this transfer himself but I do not trust lawyers. He thinks it is a bad i dea contacting you and that I could fall for scam. He tries to disuade me form using you as directed by God.
In view of this, upon acceptance, you are expected to furnish me with yourn banking details, your telephone and fax numbers, mailing address and a scanned copy of any valid means of identification. This would be used to write the bank and obtain remittance approval from the China Citic Bank to avoid impersonation.
All I ask of you is to make sure that you use this money for the work of God and service to humanity. I know I don't know you but I have been directed to do this by God. I wish you all the best and may the good God bless you abundantly as you work toward this humanitarian mission.
Respond immediately and I will give you details to open up communication with the China Citic Bank.
 
I am not unaware of internet fraud, but I'm sanguine that I am dealing with the right person. Please do not treat this message as spam as I can not be more serious!
Thanks and God bless.
Regards,
Mrs. Elaine Elliott
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"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Proverb 19:26 American King James Version)
 

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