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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: "O A. Ralph" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:02:12 -0800
Subject: RE: FOR URGENT ATTENTION PLEASE!!

Sir/Madam
 
Good day to you. I am making this contact with you under strictly confidential circumstances. If you have sincere interests in developing good investment relationship with an investor, then I am certain that you and I can build a strong, enduring relationship that will go beyond ethnic differences. You can verify my records all by yourself.
 
Please a list of FIVE names have just been released from the Presidential Council, sitting in the Presidential Villa( Aso-Rock), and the President himself endorsed, approved, and ordered the immediate payment of the contractors listed in that list(only five contractors).  we are to effect this payment from the Consolidated Revenue fund of the federation. I work in the Paymaster General's office. I this payment is to be effected on Monday, 28th February ,2008 and I want to include the sum of $8.7 million Dollars under your name to go in this list.
I would like to personally finance this by myself here in my country because I do not wish that we delay the transfer. I have enough resources to do it comfortably. All I want is for you to provide a good cover for me to operate effectively. I am a dedicated believer and I believe in what God can do, not what man can do. There is a limit to what man can do. It is only the grace of God that brings divine empowerment in our lives. PLEASE WE DO NOT HAVE TIME. WE HAVE ONLY THREE DAYS TO PERFECT THE PAPERS. I WILL FINANCE IT IF YOU WILL COVER ME.
 
Please give me your name and contact telephone number and STAY CLOSE to your phone.
 
Can you handle inter-bank cash movement without raising dust and suspicion? I do not know you well and I want to say from the very beginning that you must not disclose the real source of the fund to anyone. Proper Documentation would be done to cover the fund. I will need proper identification materials please. We must conclude the transfer between now and Monday Morning before 11 AM to enable the transfer to be effected along with the approved five at 2.00pm same day. Not later than that period for any reason. Please call me, or give me your number so that I can call you. This is much more than a child's play. If we miss the target, we miss the transfer. And I will not miss it, if you will go at my pace.
 
If you are a christian please read Matthew chapter 18 verses 18 to 20. Also read Isaiah chapter 48 verses 11 to 13, the same Isaiah chapter 49 verses 8 to 10, 14 to 15.
 
I am an ardent believer in Christ and believe in divine empowerment which brings us into the supernatural. This is not not my walk alone. It is my walk with Him. For security purposes, it will be necessary that we adopt a "code name" for this transfer.
 
I await your urgent response with your contact telephone number. Please, YOUR CONTACT DETAILS AND YOUR NUMBER without any delay.
 
God bless
 
O. Ralph.

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