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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: saramatu ayad <saramatuayad@maillingplus.com>
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 12:44:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GREETING FROM MRS SARAMATU AYAD.


GREETING FROM MRS SARAMATU AYAD.

DEAR BELOVED ONE,
Based on your profile, l Am happy to request for your assistance because I believe that you are not going to betray the trust which I am going to lay on you, Hope all is well with you and other members of your family. It is my pleasure to write you after much consideration,  since I can not  be able to see you face to face at first,
 
my name is Mrs Saramatu Ayad  I am only 28 years of age. and married to Dr. Ibrahim Ayad. before he died in the year 2006. We were married for six years with one child. Before his death we were both faithful Muslim. the mighty Allah is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Muslim. Whoever that wants to serve the mighty Allah must serve him in spirit and Truth. My late husband  was a reputable Gold and elephant tusk merchant in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire before his untimely death. After his business trip to Tunisia, to nagociate on a cocoa and gold business he wanted to invest in Tunisia, a week after he came back from Tunisia, he got an accident with my only son Ahmed of which my son died instantly but my husband  died after a brief illness that lasted for only two weeks. Before his death a private hospital. On that faithful afternoon, I didnt know that my husband  was going to leave me after I had earlier lost my son, but before
he gave up the ghost, it was as if he knew he was going to die.
 
(MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE) he called me to his bed side and told me that he deposited the sum of ($3. 5 Million U.S. Dollars)  in a bank here in Cote D' Ivoire.That the money was meant for his cocoa and Gold business he wanted to establish in Tunisia, according to my husband  he deposited the money in a fixed suspense account using my name as his beloved Wife for the next, He instructed me to seek for a reliable and trust worthy business partner for my life time investment abroad. Now I have succeeded in locating the deposit documents and the bank where this money is here in Abidjan,Cote d` Ivoire. 
Due to political crises in my country Cote d'Ivoire, I am now seeking for your assistance to help me transfer this money out from my country Cote d'Ivoire to your account abroad so that we should invest it in any meaningful and lucrative business in your country because this is my only hope in life. I am willing to offer you 20% of the total fund if only you can help me out of my present predicament. He also warned me not to associate with any of his friends down here or members of the family for my own safety. all i have explained to you is all the truth about Me. i am of real i really need your assistance for my life, and i promise that you will never regret to assisting me in life. I honourably seek your assistance in the following ways.
 
Now permit me to ask these few questions:
1. Can I completely trust you?
2. Can you accept me as your own blood (SISTER OR DAUGHTER )?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you?

To provide a bank account where this money can be transfered into. To make arrangements for me to come over to your country after the successful transfering of this money into your account, To help invest this money in a profitable business since I am only 28 years of age and i don't  know much about business. I want you to promise me that you are not going to betray me after the money gets into your account.
The worst part of it is that my husband brother is trying to kill me because i refused to hand him over the documents covering this money, He has sold all my husband's landed properties including his cars which rightful belong to me and now he want me to hand over the banking document of my husband  in my possesion which i refused. Now he said that he will have this money by all means even if it means killing me,so because  of this I ran away from home Right now, I am in one of the mosque, house here with help of  one woman. I don't want them to know about this money. With mighty Allah all things are possible. pending when this money will be transfered so that i can leave the country for my own safty.
  
and i contacted you with good faith beleive me the whole documents conerning this transaction is with me. Please,consider my proposal and get back to me soon including your direct telephone number so we can talk. Thank you so much for your understanding and May almighty allah bless you and your Family.

Best Regards
Mrs Saramatu Ayad

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