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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: "desiree kakou" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kakou_desiree@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2013 09:55:42 -0700
Subject: Greetings Dearest Beloved.

Hello Dear,
I got your contact via the Email Directory and I was simply inspired and motivated to reveal my life secret to you.
My names are Mrs. DESIREE KAKOU, and I am living with AIDS. Ever since my husband, Hon. DIALO KAKOU, the former managing director of Goldfield Mining Company LTD Cote D'Ivoire- Abidjan, that died of AIDS and I was tested positive of the AIDS virus, my late husband’s family relations wouldn’t just let me and my family be.
My only Son Emmanuel have stopped going to school because he could no longer stand the humiliations from fellow students. The embarrassments are getting on my nerves but what can I do? I would have loved to travel out of the country to a place where I will have peace and spend the rest of my life with my Son but I couldn’t make it for I am weak and severely sick.
Moreover, no Embassy would grant me Visa to her country with my hairs withering and boils all over my body. From all indications, I know that my days are numbered.
In the light of the above, I have contacted you to assist me to transfer out of  Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire  the SUM OF $11.2 MILLION U.S DOLLARS which my late husband deposited as with a Bank  for the up-keep of my child, and safe-keep it for my only Son as he will be coming over to your country in due course to live and school.
According to tradition and culture in our community, if a man dies all his properties and wealth will be shared among his family relatives and nothing will be left for my son, as they are persuading me to move out from our matrimonial home so that they can sell the house, and because of that my husband gave this document to me without any one's consent except his lawyer whose signature appears in the documents.
YOU WILL INVEST THIS MONEY FOR MY ONLY SON, EMMANUEL IN COMMERCIAL ESTATE OR ANY BUSINESS OF YOUR CHOICE YOU DEEM HEALTHY. Please if you will assure me that you will handle my Son as yours by given him Good education, Open bank account for him and give him Parental Care, then I will release the funds to you so that you can use the money to start the process before his arrival in your country.
For your effort, I am prepared to give you 30% of the total funds.
I am looking forward to hearing from you while thanking you for your anticipated cooperation in this regard.
Kind Regards,
Desiree Kakou[Mrs.]

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