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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: "Bouba Mahmoud" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bouba.mahmoud@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:17:35 +0100
Subject: Salam

Hello,
Although this letter will come to you as a surprise from someone you do not know before but it was based on recommendation from a friend who advised me to invest in your country that I decided to contact you and introduce myself. My name is Bouba Mahmoud, I am the special steward to the Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

I have worked in Government house for the past Ten years. It was a great opportunity for me to achieved what I got today which I believe God is asking me to write to you for your utmost assistance. I also believe that the same God will bind my words with you on trust. Amen.


To be explicit, I have secured the sum of US$18.5million dollars and sent it out of the country during the time of the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. The said amount was kept in the presidential guesthouse for security logistics because of how the Government was at war with the pro-democracy groups in the country.

At that point, there was power struggle in the country in which people in better and strategic positions made away with substantial amount of money which I was also lucky to secure what I declared to you with confidence that, you will not allow anybody to know or hear about it because it is highly confidential. Since the Government is confused now and do not want to take chances, I had been stopped not to travel outside Libya, my international passport had been seized and my movement has also been restricted. This is the most important reason that I needed your assistance to quickly claim this money on my behalf from where I deposited it outside the shore of Libya since my intention is to put this money for an investment in your country in non speculative business where my name will not be mentioned.


I have a percentage for you in this transaction when you give me your words indicating your interest. I will also disclose more information to you such as the particulars of where the said money is kept and the certificate of deposit which shall be sent to you as well as other relevant document.

I have informed the security company that I have a partner who will call to confirm and claim the safety of the deposit.
Please get back to me with the following information.

FULL NAME:..................

ADDRESS:.......................

PHONE NUMBER:.........

I will be expecting your urgent response.

Yours truly,
Bouba Mahmoud

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