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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.Janos Horvath <test2@vcanland.com>
Reply-To: <destinytt00@thondaman.org>
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:23:07 +0100
Subject: UPDATE...02-02-2012

Dear friend,
 
How are you today???
 
Permit my contacting you unsolicited; it might interest you to know how I got your contact. I got your contact through your country book of Chamber of Commerce in my private search for a matured and reliable foreign partner. I am a Senior Manager working with one of the reputable Vault Office here in Dublin Ireland. For a very long time now I have been in exclusive custody of private deposit information of one of our firms customers; a Lebanese who was running gold and diamond business here in Dublin Ireland but unfortunately died in a plane crash along with his family without leaving any written [WILL]. News of the crash that took his life can be found in this web link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/26/content_293549.htm
 
I have made several unsuccessful efforts over the years to locate any relation of his but to no avail, and the time is approaching when the firm might recycle it into the firms assets as unclaimed fund. The amount is involved is $361,000,000 and the main essence of my communication with you is to seek your cooperation in recovering this fund with 100 percent perfection considering the action plan I have set up. I can facilitate the release of this money within 21 working days, providing to you the correct paperwork as the entitled beneficiary of the fund. I want you to do this business with me and we will agree on the percentage to donate to charity and to help the less privilege in both your country and in my country anonymously. Then with the remaining fund we may either enter into 50/50 joint investment in your country with the fund under your management if you will agree, we shall share it 40/60 for you and I respectively while 10 percent will be set aside to offset the overa  
Let me assure you once again that this business will not last more than 21 days and I will apply for a leave on health ground in order to be granted an opportunity by my firm to stay away from work. That will be my chance to visit you in your country for reimbursement or signing of investment partnership contract. Please note that this business is free from risk but needs uttermost confidentiality. Immediately the fund is transferred I will enter our transaction archive room to retrieve and destroy all evidence of the transaction and there will be no trace to any place.
 
Thanks and best regards,
Dr. Janos Horvath.

Anti-fraud resources: