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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: "Ms. Carman L. Lapointe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <au3697@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:49:18 -0500
Subject: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting
 
 
Respond Very Urgently,
 
 
This is to inform you that of my trip to Nigeria yesterday from London, due to series of complain from the United State Financial Security Services and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations. You can go through our website to confirm my personality,
 
 
http://www.un.org/sg/senstaff_details.asp?smgID=147
 
 
During our network investigations we discovered that you have an inheritance fund of USD$5.500.000.00( FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED UNITED STATE DOLLARS which was (WILL)" to your NAME, during our investigations, we discovered that allot of people are interested in confiscating your inheritance into their personal account because they know too well that you can't be able to come down to Nigeria to claim your fund, This Thief went to the Bank Head office, with a Funeral picture saying that you died of Car Accident and before you died, you made him your rightful Next of Kin. Please confirm to us if you are alive by sending all your necessary contact details and as well CALL me for further confirmations on my direct number +234-812-811-9427
 
 
As well send your contact information below for verifications:
 
 
(1) Your Valid Direct Tel/ Mobile/Fax Number.
(2) Your Full Name:
(3) Current Resident Address.
(4) Your Private E-mail Address.
(5) Your Occupation:
(6) Your Age and Sex:
(7) Your Nationality:
(8) Driving license or your passport copy or your working id card:
(9) Your Next of Kin
(Reply through this Email address only: ( au3697@gmail.com )
 
 
Be informed that i have a mandate from the United State Financial agency in Washington to verify this Inheritance and gives all necessary instruction to release this fund to the rightful owner before I return back to New York by Friday next week. We do not want anything that will jeopardize your chances of receiving your fund, so you are required to comply with my directives.
 
 
NOTE: You are warned to STOP every communication you have with anyone as regards to your inheritance fund because all these while, they have not been able to help you to receive your fund so for your best interest, STOP every communication you have with whoever you have been dealing with and work with me so that you will receive your fund within 72 banking hours.
I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to receive your fund within the next 72 hours.
 
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Ms. Carman L. Lapointe
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight

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