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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: Mrs Inna Belinda Johnson <mrsinnaa2005@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:33:12 +0100
Subject: Are you still interested in helping me?

Dear Friend,
This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met.
After searching through your country's Chamber of Commerce and industry here in London I am contacting you to assist me, I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any pains as you read this.
I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is MRS. BELINDA JOHNSON, a merchant here in London, presently taking medical treatment. now, I have been diagnosed with Prostate and Esophageala cancer that was discovered very late due to my uncaring attitude for my health. It has defiled all form of medicine and right now, I have only about a few months to live according to medical experts.
To be frank with you,I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but my business and money. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on my business as
that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I ave lived it.
Now that I know my time is almost up, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends. I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.
So far,I have distributed money to some charity organizations here in UK, United Arab Emirates and Ireland. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self any more. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and donatethe money which I have there to some charity organizations in Bulgaria, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be content with what I have left for them.
The last of my money is the huge cash deposit ($21m) that I have with a security firm abroad .I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations and let them know that it is I, MRS.BELINDA JOHNSON
that is making this generous donation. I am writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed where I wait for my time to come.
You can reply me through my private email address: mrsbelindajohnson@yahoo.com
As soon as I received your sincere response, I will hence give you all the necessary details of how this can be done. I pray that you will support and assist me with good heart so that I can be able to achieve my goal. If you accept to help me do this, I promise you a reward of 30% of the ($21m).
Thank you for understanding.
MRS.BELINDA JOHNSON


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