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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: "Rev. Frank Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revfrank.smith1@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 05:49:50 -0500
Subject: FUND TRANSFER

Good Day,

I hope this mail gets to you in good faith.Let me start by introducing
myself to you, I am Rev. Pastor Frank Smith and a banker by profession with
banking experience of 24years.Presently, I am working with the CENTRAL BANK
OF NIGERIA (CBN) at the transfer department and am in charge of Foreign
Transfer Department.I want to use this opportunity to let you know that I
came across your file that was painted Red and marked X and your transfer
has been puton pending and hold for so long. I took time to carry out my
investigation and only to find out that you have paid VIRTUALLY all fees but
the fund was not released to you.

I'm writing to confirm if you are DEAD or Alive because I am looking for all
means to get this fund across to you or your family.I needed to do this
because you need to know the statues of your Funds and cause for the delay,
please this is like a Mafia setting in Nigeria, and you may not understand
it because you are not a Nigerian.I am only doing this because I have the
fear of GOD in me and I hate to see people been cheated. The only thing
needed to release this fund is the COST OF TRANSFER(C.O.T).

Note that the actual funds are valued at $3.5 MILLION USD and the president
made a compensation fund release for all unpaid beneficiary valued at
$1million.

i shall be looking forward to hear from you if you are still very much
alive.

Do get in touch with me immediately with my direct number +2348141290615 to
conclude this final transaction immediately,and also send to me your
convenient-tel/fax numbers for easy communications.

Email: revfrank.smith1@aol.com
I remain your brother in the Lord Almighty.
Best Regards
Rev. Pastor Frank Smith.



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