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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: "Master Saeed A. Hassan" <jnr.saeed.alan@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 13:22:36 +0000
Subject: Re: I am not in Syria again, Please.

--
Dear Sir/Mam,

I am writing this mail with tears and sorrow to seek for your assistance
regards my situation since the death of my parents. My name is Master Saeed
A. Hassan, 21 years old , origin of Damascus, Syria. My late Father Dr.
Alan Hassan former foreign bank account supervisor to Major-General Ghazi
Kanaan, former Syria\'s Interior Minister, who was shot death by
Islamist-linked militia on his way back to our home from the airport, the
brutal killing of my mother and my only kid sister took place a week after
the death of my father.

I am now writing to seek for your assistance from refugee camp here in
Accra Ghana. I managed to escaped through the help of the United Nation
Officials, and now seeking asylum in refugee camp here in Accra Ghana.
Meanwhile, the main reason why I am seeking for your assistance is because
of some money my late parents deposited in one of the banks here in Accra
Ghana where my father has his Gold Ark Company, which I am the next of kin.

My Father made a fixed deposit of Twelve Million Eight Hundred Thousand US
Dollar (US$12.8M) and 5.5 Kilos of Gold. I need you to stand as my trustee
so that the money will be transferred to you. I promise to settle you with
30% of the money for your help, I will forward you with the deposit papers
to contact the banking security company for the release of my funds so that
I can start my education over there in your country.

Yours Sincerely,
Master Saeed A. Hassan
Email: jnr.saeed.alan@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: