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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: "Sgt.Dorothy Mccausland" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2010 12:04:35 -0800
Subject: FROM GOOD FRIEND!!!!!!!

Dear  Friend,
 
How're you doing? I'm quite delighted to write concerning a mutaul venture, meanwhile, my name is Major Dorothy McCausland,I'm an America Military Medical personnel, serving here in the 3RD Infantry Division. As you very well know, Iraq is gradually undergoing a rebuilding process in some parts and there is much need for reconstruction. As stated above, I specialize on treatment evaluation and offer professional medical safety advise. In no doubt, work has been risky and challenging as we sometimes collide head on with armed insurgents and loose some devoted soldiers during confrontation.
 
On the early hours of 4th may 2010 I lost a friend whom I had known for 12years during one of these confrontations. It was a very sad day but at about 1100hrs during a normal inspection routine along Haifa Street, built and occupied by the late Saddam Hussein while he was still alive and one of the hide outs of the Al Qaeda and Ayman al-Zawahiri forces. I, alongside with 2 soldiers proceeded to a marked site and as I commenced evaluation under close guard by the 2 soldiers, I discovered an unusual bulge in a cellar, which I presumed to be storage room and as I proceeded to have a closer look at it, I kicked a metal covering and found several metal boxes (6 in number) Piled on top each other and locked with a padlock. On forcing the boxes open, we discovered several armored weapons including bullets. One of the boxes was filled with hard drugs (heroine) and two to my amazement was filled with cash. Though this is not the first time this kind of occasion is taking place.
Why I am explaining all our findings to you is to seek for your assistance and immense contribution to the actualization of our dream of getting these funds out from here. We are in desperate need of a reliable and trustworthy person who will receive, secure and protect these boxes containing the money for us until our assignment ends here. Since Iraq is getting unsafe and more dangerous everyday especially upon the departure of large number of US Military troop, however, going by the nature of my job here, we still have to stay long here, but we cannot afford to leave these boxes here in Iraq for any reason and knowing fully well that these were funds used in sponsoring terrorist attacks on our innocent humans. We have no idea what could happen next. This is a true story of what we came across here in Iraq.And my ID's issued by the US army and government for you to know better whom you are dealing with but I will include that in my next email to you. I assure and promise
As soon as you quickly get in touch with me. I will give details of the transaction to sail the scheme accordingly.
 
Looking forward to swift response.
 
Major McCausland.
USARMY-IRAQ.

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