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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: "owolabi owokola" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Revmichaelbalfore@rediff.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:38:19 +1200
Subject: Regarding a multi-million-dollar business proposal

Hello
 
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family. I hope  this mail meets you in a perfect condition. You may not understand why this mail came to you. However, if you do not remember me, you might have receive an  email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar business proposal which we
never concluded.
 
I am using this opportunity to inform you that this  multi-million-dollar business has been concluded with another person who financed it to a  logical conclusion. I thank you for your great effort to our unfinished
transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other best known to  you. However, I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of my bank to my new partner's account that was capable of assisting me in this  great venture. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you
showed during the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show  my gratitude to you with the sum of $950,000.00. I have left an  international certified bank draft for you worth about $950,000.00; cashable any were  in the world with a Bank in Nigeria were, Rev Michael Balfore. work
Who actually helped in the conclusion of the multi-million-dollar  business in the financial aspect of the transaction.
 
I have authorized Rev Michael Balfore to release the international  certified bank draft to you as soon as you contact him regarding this issue. My  dear friend I will like you to contact this pastor for the collection of this international certified bank draft.At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart.
 
CONTACT: Rev  Michael Balfore
  ADDRESS: Revmichaelbalfore@rediff.com
  TELE: 234 1 217 0717
 
Thanks and God bless you and your family. However, I want you to  contact him immediately as soon as you receive this because he will be leaving soon  on a very long vacation as he didnt have any for the past three years due to  over time.
My sincere advice to you as a christian is that you should endeavour to  pay your tithe to a bible believing Bank when you get Draft  . We require  your informations to facilitate the your claims:
 
1. Full Names:
2. Residential Address:
3. Phone Number:
4. Fax Number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age :
8. Nationality:
9. Present Country:
 
Yours Faithfully
 
jaiye owolabi
 
We require your informations to facilitate your claims
 

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