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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: "Yours Sincerely,Joseph Arum" <davidballardau@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "Yours Sincerely,Joseph Arum" <josepharum.secretary@barid.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 09:44:30 -0700
Subject: PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK


DEAR BENEFICIARY,
 
MY NAME IS MR.JOHN WALKER OF TELEX/COMPUTER DEPARTMENT OF THE AFRI BANK,
PORT HARCOURT - NIGERIA. I AM SENDING THIS PRIVATE EMAIL BASED ON THE
CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TRANSACTION. PLEASE, I WILL LIKE TO ADVISE; IF
AFTER GOING THROUGH MY PROPOSAL AND YOU DO NOT ACCEPT IT, KINDLY KEEP IT
TO YOURSELF.
 
AS OF THIS MOMENT, I AM STILL IN SERVICE WITH THE AB NIGERIA.  AND I
WILL NOT BY ANY MEANS LIKE TO LOSE MY JOB, SO IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED,
KEEP THIS TO YOURSELF. I HAVE PUT IN OVER 23 YEARS IN THIS BANK BUT I
DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. THIS IS JUST MY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT I GIVE MY CHILDREN A DECENT TRAINING SINCE MY GOVT WHICH IS
CORRUPT HAS REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY. INFANT I AM SICK
AND TIRED OF
 EVERYTHING HERE AND I NEED TO GET OUT.
 
I FOUND OUT THAT YOU ALMOST MET ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS IN
RESPECT OF YOUR PAYMENT. PLEASE BE EQUALLY ADVISED THAT NO SECURITY
COMPANY IN AFRICA CAN HANDLE YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT/INHERITANCE FUND WITH
ANY BANK WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE AFI BANK, NIGERIA.
 
YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT OF INTEREST GROUP IN THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF
FINANCE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ORDER TRANSFER OF YOUR FUND WITH THE
APPROVAL OF THE AB. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR PAYMENT AND
THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU RECEIVE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS FROM DIFFERENT
PEOPLE EVERYDAY, THEIR WHOLE GAME PLAN IS TO FRUSTRATE YOU; IN-ORDER FOR
YOU TO ABANDON THE PAYMENT AND THEN, THEY WILL BE COMFORTABLE AND BE
FREE ENOUGH TO TRANSFER THE FUNDS INTO THEIR OVERSEAS ACCOUNT. THEIR AIM
AND TARGET IS NOT THE MONEY YOU ARE GIVING THEM BUT TO FRUSTRATE YOU,
HENCE, YOU HAVE LOST TRUST ON WHOM TO BELIEVE TO BE GENUINE.
 
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT
 THIS MAY LAST FOR YEARS, YET NOTHING HAPPENS,TO SUM IT UP, I WISH TO
ASSURE YOU THAT WITH MY POSITION HERE IN THE TELEX DEPARTMENT, I CAN
PUNCH THE COMPUTER AND CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT STRAIGHT, I CAN ACCOMPLISH
THIS UNDER FIVE WORKING DAYS, BUT WE HAVE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. FIRST
OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WILL GIVE ME AT THE
CONSUMMATION OF THIS DEAL.
 
FINALLY, YOU WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL IF YOU ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL, KINDLY GET BACK TO ME
IMMEDIATELY ON MY PRIVATE MAIL ADDRESS ( walker.john53@yahoo.fr ) AND
CONFIRM YOUR PARTICULARS ON REPLY.
 
REGARDS,
 
MR.JOHN WALKER.

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