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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: lilian yao <lilian123yao@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: lilian1230yao@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 05:48:05 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Greeting


Greeting
 
Dearest , I am writing this mail with tears and sorrow in my heart, hoping that my situation will touch your heart for you to come to my rescue. However is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will,but first Iet me introduce myself to you, My name is Lilian Yao, I am 19 years old girl this year I am from Ivory coast female, tall, slim, fair and a very good looking girl that loves traveling and dancing, a student, that loves to be loved, I want you to also understand that your Age, distance, Religions does not matter to me, kindly permit me to contact you through this medium, I am compelled to contact you via this medium for obvious reasons which you will understand when we discuss details of my proposition. I lost my parents is a long story that I will tell you when we meet face to face in your country.
 
After the burial of my father, my uncle has threatened to kill me because of the money my father deposited in a bank with my name as the next of kin before his dead which amount is ($3.5) ( Three million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ) I tried to withdraw the money so that I can travailed out to a better and safer country to start a new and better life and take care of myself.
 
Contacting the bank, the bank manager told me that my late father's instruction and agreement with the bank was the money will be release to me only when I am married or I should present a trustee who will help me invest the money overseas.
 
I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray the trust I have on you. But rather take me as your own daughter or your Sister. Though you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well, I will say that my mind convinced me that you are the true person to help me stand as my trustee since i have not married.
 
I have avoided disclosing this to any of our relatives as I am now hiding myself in a local hotel out side the city because I do not know who killed my father and the person may also start seeking for my death after knowing that I can succeed in future. Please help me to transfer this money into your account from here. I will like to come over to your country immediately the money is transfer into your account.
 
I willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as your compensation for helping me because this help must come from a foreigner who does not know my background. when I get your response to this mail I will give you the necessary information reguired to carry on the transfer. I will appreciate your urgent reply for more details. Thank you and God bless you.

Yours Faithful,

Lilian Yao.

 

 

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