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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: "Dr Ms Cynthia Marcos" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tnt.express.courier-bj@one.co.il>
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:10:01 +0200
Subject: LETTER TO YOU ??

LETTER TO YOU ??
 
URGENT - HELP ME DISTRIBUTE MY EIGHTEEN MILLION TO HUMANITARIAN FROM MRS VANIE R OSCAR.
 
This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I am Mrs. Vanie R Oscar and I am a 65 years old woman.
 
I am a South African married to a Sierra Leonia. I was the President/CEO of CON OIL INTERNATIONAL-an oil servicing company in Johannesburg. I was also married with no child. My husband died on the 24th of November 2004.
 
Before this happened my business and concern for making money was all I was living for and I never really cared about other people. But since the loss of my Husband and also because i had have no child to call my own, I have found a new desire to assist the helpless, I have been helping orphans in orphanages/motherless homes/humanitarians. I have donated some money to orphans in Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Spain, Austria, Germany and some Asian countries. IN SUMMARY: - I have 18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million) U. S. Dollars which I deposited in a security company in Cotonou Benin republic as a family treasure & artifacts, please I want you to note that the security company does not know the real content to be money and I want you to assist me in claiming the consignment & distributing the money to charity organizations, I agree to reward you with part of the money for your assistance, kindness and participation in this Godly project. Before I be came ill, I kept $18 Million in a
 
You are at liberty to use your discretion to distribute the money and feel free as well to reimburse yourself when you have the money for any expenses in distributing the money to charity organizations. I am willing to reward you for your assistance and kindness.
 
Kindly expedite action and contact me via email at mrsvanierooscar@one.co.il for more details.
 
May the good Lord bless you and your family?
 
Best Regards.
Mrs. Vanie R Oscar
PLZ REPLLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAILBOX BACK: mrsvanierooscar@one.co.il
 

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