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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: Patience Johnson <mrspatiencejonson@voila.fr>
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:02:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Hello........


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CONFIDENTIAL


 
 
FROM: MRS. PATIENCE JOHNSON
OUAGADOUGOU,BURKINA
FASO
INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE,
 
 sir,
 
I am writing with my personal respect with regards to your reposed
personality / firm as a reliable, Trustworthy and God fearing.  I got your
contact through the help a friend who works at the Chamber of Commerce in Ouagadougou the
Capital of Burkina Faso.
 
In deed I am the wife of Late MR. EDWARD JOHNSON from Sierra Leone . I
and my two children are presently staying in Burkina Faso as
Refugees, my husband was one of the Ministers of Johnny Paul Koromah' s regime
in Sierra Leone . During the intervention of the ECOMOG Soldiers to Restore the
presidency of Alhaji Tejan KABBAH from Johnny Koromah, my husband was among the
23 executed Ministers. As our breadwinner is dead (my husband) And our stay in
Sierra Leone is no more safe, I and my Two children decided to move to Burkina
Faso a Neighboring African Country for safety. Due to our Status in Burkina Faso
as refugees I was forced to Lodge our family funds ( US$ 13.4 Million) in a
finance house.
 
Since then we have been receiving help from our Mission , because we are
staying in one of the Visitor's villa in the church premises and attends
Fellowship and worship fully. I hope you will be Touched to understand my
request. We have agreed to invest our money in a viable business venture
overseas country through your assistance and directives. You will provide or
look for a lucrative business venture where this money can be invested on.
Before proceeding further, we will get to be more familiar and also go into an
understanding working agreement because our family's Future now depends on this
money. The boxes containing the money and treasures were all deposited and
registered as family treasures. This was done for Security reasons we would like
to know what you will take as your percentage for assisting us. We sincerely
wish to introduce and make you our Business Partner and overseer of our proposed
Investment in your Country. We are prepared to send all the documents regarding
to this deposit as soon as you show your concerned interest through an email
response including the following
 
Your full names and Office or residential address
 Private telephone and
fax numbers.
Your private email address.
 
 
Best regards,
 
 
MRS. PATIENCE JOHNSON.




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