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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: "Nellie Johnson" <nelliejoh17@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:34:46 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Hello Dear


Hi Dear,

Good Morning!
I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we haven't known or
come across each other before. I am Nelli Johnson 19 years old female from
the Republic of Ivory Coast,West Africa. I lost my mother at the very young
age of 8, and being the daughter, I have neither brothers nor sisters. I
was a student of fashion designs in a college before the ugly incident that
took the life of my father. And since then I've been passing through a very
difficult and painful period of my life.

With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe you
would be of great assistance to me. I want you to help me invest my fathers
money Five Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars. (USD5,500.000.00)
into a
profitable business in your Country as my partner. My father was into real
estate business for many years before he was poisoned on his way coming
back from business trip.

I will give you details once you reply my message. Please I will be glad
if you can help me invest in a profitable business in your country. If you
agree, we shall both share the total annual profit. I am thinking of
investing into any of these area like (REAL ESTATE, 5STAR HOTELS,
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, AGRICULTURE OR TEXTILE)

Please your suggestion and idea will be fine for me. I demand you treat
this very confidential. I will give you full details of the funds
concerning the transfer as soon as I receive your reply.

Waiting for your soonest respond.

Nellie Johnson

Anti-fraud resources: