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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.Terry Donald" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <terry.don22@rocketmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2012 02:31:41 -0700
Subject: URGENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

Re.Our BUSINESS TRANSACTION!!
Minerva House Third Floor
London,SE1 9DH
United Kingdom

This letter might also come to you as a surprise but it is coming with the best of intentions and will be of mutual benefit to all the parties involved.I am Terry Donald the chief security officer to the former LIBERIAN PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR here after referred to as my client I am writing to solicit your assistance to secure funds that are already in the states now! with a security company.The fund in question is a total of $5,000,000 (Five Million United States Dollars) in $100 bills and stashed in Two trunk boxes and was shipped out of Liberia through a diplomatic means by a security company and they are not aware of the real content of the boxes for security reasons.
The boxes are already in The states (USA) and under the custody of a security company.I am looking For your assistance in getting the boxes out from the security company and securing the funds,we will give you 10% of the total fund.
NOTE:There is no risk involved in this project because I am involved as my Client confidant.Please you should keep this transaction a top secret as we are prepared to do more business with you pending your approach towards this project.
I await your urgent response.

Thanks.
Mr.Terry Donald

Anti-fraud resources: