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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: Miss Gisele Mathias <murielkabba1@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: mathiassgisele@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 19:46:12 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Dearest One Read with care please,





Dearest One Read with care please, 
 
It is my pleasure to send you this details of my life for a sincere relationship and for the fact that i am in need of your commit zeal to assist me on this important matter. I hope you will honor my mail and reply with your kindness I will begin by introducing myself to you. 

 
My name is Miss Gisele Mathias; I am 21 years old girl from Cote D’Ivoire a good and God fearing girl. I want to have a common relationship with you, I need to tell you more things, but first I need your help to Stand for me as a trustee. My father late Chief Andrew Mathias was a businessman before his death on May 02, 2010. Some months after the death of my father, two of my uncles conspired against me and sold my father's properties to a Chinese businessman all because I am a girl. After many weeks, I opened my father's briefcase and saw some documents which my late father used and deposited money in a trunk box in a Security Company here in Cote D’Ivoire with my name as the next of kin and there is a pure gold inside the box. 
 
I have tried to withdraw the money so that I can start a better life and take care of myself but the director of the Security Company whom I met in person told me that my father made an agreement bond with the Security Company that only a foreigner is entitled to be the new beneficiary of the deposit for the delivery of the box and the foreigner must be appointed by me as the next of kin of the deposit, for delivery by the security company. I have chosen to contact you and would like you to take me as your own blood and help me. I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate to your country because my uncle has threatened to kill me. The amount is Six Million eight hundred and Fifty thousand US Dollars ($6,850,000.00).You will help me to place the money in a more profitable business investment in your Country. 
 
You will also help by getting me a resident permit and a nice University in your country so that I can complete my studies. 
 
I will like you to tell me the percentage you need for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment. As soon as I receive your interest in helping me, I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this project sincerely. Please do keep this only to yourself. I beg you not to disclose it to anyone until I come over to your country because I am afraid of my wicked uncle who has threatened to kill me.
 
Your quick respond will be appreciated because my life is at risk here because of political crisis we just passed through. 
 
Sincerely yours,
Miss Gisele Mathias.

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