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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: "Mr. Boris Frana" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <boris.frana@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:51:56 +0100
Subject: BAD NEWS 2012..., . RESPOND TO ME ASAP!!,.,

Hi,
 
How are you today??? Permit my contacting you unsolicited;
 
I am a Senior Staff working with a Reputable Security Company here in Lome, the Republic of Togo, For a very long time now I have been in exclusive custody of private deposit information of one of our firms customers; a Pakistani who was running gold and diamond business here in Lome but unfortunately died in a plane crash April 21, 2012 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://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/21/world/pakistan-plane-crash/index.html
 
The amount that is involved is $106,000,000 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 fund within 21 working days, providing you the correct paperwork as the entitled beneficiary of the fund.
 
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 overall cost of transaction.
 
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,
Mr. Boris Frana.
Email: boris_frana@ymail.com

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