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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: stelly_makkuo122@yahoo.co.jp <stelly_makkuo122@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 17:13:03 +0200 (CAT)
Subject: FROM STELLY MAKKUO.

FROM STELLY MAKKUO ABIDJAN.IVORY COAST WEST-AFRICA DEAR ONE, I AM DEAF GIRL MY NAME IS STELLY MAKKUO THE DAUGHTER OF LATE DR AND MRS ALFRED MAKKUO , MY FAHTER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS DEAL. WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 5TH OCTOBER 2011. MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I AM MOTHERLESS.BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH MARCH 2012 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$5.500.000 (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND, UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A LOCAL BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE. (SUCH AS REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT). TO PROVIDE A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THIS MONEY WOULD BE TRANSFERED TO SERVE AS THE GUARDIAN OF THIS FUND AND MY YOUNGER BROTHER KEVIN IS 20 YEARS. TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR US TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY TO FURTHER OUR EDUCATION AND TO SECURE A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT IN YOUR COUNTRY. MOREOVER, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT OVERSEAS. THANKS AND GOD BLESS STELLY MAKKUO

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