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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: "Mr. Lewis Sam" <pascale.vial@noos.fr>
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:42:03 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Dear friend,

Dear friend,
 
We the management of ATM Master Card Department Cotonou Republic of Benin, wishes to inform you that we are in receipt of an ATM Master Card issued in your favour with cashable amount of $2.700,000 usd, from your agent and they told us to cancel the Master Card because you don't want to receive it.
 
They stated that you refused to send down the mailing fee of $125 usd which they are going to use for mailing fee of your ATM master Card to you through Delivery Company but you insist, instead you asked them to cancel the ATM CARD that you don't need it anymore,so you are advised to contact us immediately and tell us what is going on.
 
You can contact our manager Mr.Jerry Douglas because your ATM Card is with him now, on this web address (adepartment16@yahoo.in) Send your full address, telephone number and your full name to him for him to proceed if you still wish to receive your ATM Card of $2.700.000 before he can take any necessary action.
 
We are waiting for your urgent reply as soon as you receive this email by contacting our manager.
 
 M.Lewis Sam.

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