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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: "Ruben James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rubenjames101@ymail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:26:48 +0100
Subject: NEXT OF KIN

FROM THE DESK OF RUBEN JAMES (ESQ)
201 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014.

Attention:
I am attorney Ruben James.I personally advocate Mr.Mark who is a citizen of your country.Forgive me any embarrassement this letter may cause you all this for our own good. On April 21, 2009, my client, his wife and their only son were involved in a car accident together in New York Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of an accident, since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet and our Chamber of Commerce to find any member of his family but to anything, so I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left before they are confiscated or declared unserviceable to the bank where my client to submit these huge deposits. In particular, the bank where the deceased had an account valued at $ 7.5 (7.5 million U.S. dollars). Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of k
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Barrister Ruben James.

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