419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- aminoman2020@rediffmail.com (Rediffmail, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Amin Omran" <info@webmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: aminoman2020@rediffmail.com
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:58:27 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?RE-=8042=2C00=2C000.00?=(FOURTH TWO
MILLION=?iso-8859-1?Q?=2C_FIVE_HUNDRED_THOUSAND_EURO?=) INVESTMENT.

RE-€42,00,000.00(FOURTH TWO MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EURO) INVESTMENT.
I wish this proposals will not embarrass you as I had no previous
correspondence with you.

I am Mr,Amin Omran, a Syrian nationality. My objective is to establish a
viable business relationship with you. I am personal assistant to Late
general Dawoud Rajha(Syrian defence minister) who was killed Wednesday the
18th July,2012 through an explosion inside the Syrian national security
headquarters in Damascus which targeted ministers from President Bashar
Assad's regime who were meeting with defense officials.

Whilst, I am in a hide out since Wednesday18th July,2012 trying to find
my way out of Syrian territory. But my most predicament is the available
cash (€42,500,000.00) at my disposal which I am willing to part to you or
your organization in OVERSEA there so you could invest it wisely into
viable and profit yielding venture in your country. It is my cogent
believe that the profit so accrued from the investment placement annually
may be plough back to me for upkeep in any place or country I may finally
granted refuge.

I am ready to dialogue and agree in terms and condition with you if you
can accept this funds for investment on my behalf. No matter what your
response may be, kindly advise me without any delay to enabling me know
next line of action.

Thanks
Yours sincerely
Mr. Amin Omran
Email:aminoman2020@rediffmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam