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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: "SGT. Ottmar Jacobs." <ifbvinfo@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:48:38 -0100
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I know you would be surprised to read from someone relatively unknown to you
before, not under minding the medium this email came to you; this is for
security and privacy purposes, forgive me for reaching you through this means.
I'm SGT. Ottmar Jacobs, a member of NATO – ISAF troop presently in
Afghanistan.

I would like to share some highly personal classified information about my
personal experience and role which I played in the pursuit of my career
serving under the NATO – ISAF which was at the fore-front of the war in Iraq
now stationed in Afghanistan – Kandahar. Though, I would like to hold back
certain information for security reasons for now until you have find the time
to visit the BBC websites stated below to enable you have insight as to what
I'm intending to share with you, believing that it would be of your desired
interest one way or the other.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

I will implore you to get back to me after you have visited the above link to
enable us discuss in details. I must say that I'm very uncomfortable sending
this message to you without knowing truly if you would misunderstand the
importance and decides to go public.

Send me a mail confirming you have visited the site and that you understand my
intentions and how to proceed ahead?

I will await your thoughts.

SGT. Ottmar Jacobs.

Anti-fraud resources: