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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: "WILLIAM COLE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wcole2010@hotmail.co.za>
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 06:35:30 +0100
Subject: WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR BENEFIT

 
DR. WILLIAM COLE
145 Ormond Street, London Greater London, WC1N 3JH UK
Dear Friend,
 
My name is Dr. William Cole, a British national and an investment consultant attached to the Libyan investment Authority (LIA). I started working for the Libyan government under the leadership of Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi since the beginning of 2000 and have arranged so many deals between the government and the international partners but due to the ongoing crisis in the country I decided to quit my job and return to my home country England because I am not in support of the Libyan leader Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi due to his crack down on the opposition. There are some funds which I was directed to move to neighboring Ghana at the beginning of the uprising for further transfer to China for the purchase of arms to be used in the ongoing war in the Libya. The funds which I succeeded in moving through a clandestine arrangement to a private finance company in Ghana is now deposited there waiting for my further instruction for onward transfer to china for the purchase of the arms and ammunition from an arms ma
Further details shall be given to you upon the receipt of your interest to work with me on this project so that we can successfully move this fund to your nominated account. All arrangement has been concluded for the successful conclusion of the release/transfer of this fund in your name. Go to http://saharareporters.com/press-release/new-leaked-document-reveals-hsbc-held-14bn-libyan-funds
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=1162581l1174749l0l1176622l37l31l1l8l0l2l1152l4096l6-1.3l4l0&q=cache:sYxhzE01DJ8J:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15389550+bbc+news+reports+death+of+gaddafi&ct=clnk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15390980 for more details.
 
Please this is highly classified information therefore I advise that you keep it to yourself. I shall be willing to meet with you anywhere in Europe or possibly Africa but at the moment I am currently in my England. Get back to me on this email: w.cole2009@hotmail.com if you are interested so that we can proceed. We will discuss the sharing ratio once I hear from you because you will play a vital role to the success of this business.
Regards
Dr. William Cole

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