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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: "susan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ginobian3@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:53:44 +0200
Subject: FROM SUSAN ZUMER

I am from Zimbabwean. My husband was a farmer in In Zimbabwe and was killed. Basically, He was involved in Agricultural production, until when the government of Robert Mugabe decided to seize all farm-land owned by whites in Zimbabwe (without Compensation. Robert Mugabe did not stop, At least, over hundreds white farmers and black settlers have been killed since The farm invasions began in February 2000. Most of them have gone back to Europe and other nearby country, while some few of us are still in Zimbabwe. I have decided I must see the end of the problem. Al the moment, our phone lines are bugged, and all our movements are being monitored by Zimbabwe’s secret Police. The White farmers in Zimbabwe have taken the case to the United Nations, and even with the threats of sanctions and the subsequent Sanctions from the West against the Zimbabwean Authorities, Robert Mugabe (The President of Zimbabwe) still remains adamant. He is insisting that the farm land (some of which we bought with our money and most of which Were inherited, but he is saying It Belongs the government of Zimbabwe.Anyway, as soon as I heard the rumour about the possible seizure of the farm land and there subsequent expulsion from Zimbabwe,I Immediately sold part of my farm land and withdrew all the money I had in Zimbabwean banks (Both savings and current account.Since she could not keep the money in Zimbabwe, I used the Services of a Diplomatic Courier Company to move this money Registered as official documents deposited in a diplomatic sealed Box out of Zimbabwe to South Africa. The Amount US$9,500,000(Nine million five hundred thousand United States Dollars) I want to move the money to western world with the help of diplomatic company, All necessary particulars which can facilitate and enable you Claim the money on my behalf will be forwarded to you as soon as Your consent to proceed is received.For our assistance, I will offer you 30% of the total sum. You are also obliged to help/advise on the proper and most Convenient way of investing this money in your country, since this money cannot be brought back in cash to the Country of Origin. Hopefully, consider this request and respond positively. Once you agree with me I will advise you on how we can go forward. I await your favourable response. yours sincerely, Mrs susan zuma

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