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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: "Mrs Graca Machel Mandela" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atlawoffice@terra.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:58:10 +0200
Subject: MANDELA LAST REQUEST

Dear Friend,
 
 
With due respect, I must apologize for this unsolicited message, I am aware that this is certainly not a conventional way of approaching an unknown person for establishment of project and investment. But I respectfully insist you read this message carefully before you either take a decision of proceeding or deleting my message as I am optimistic it will be successful for unimaginable financial benefit for both of us.
 
 
I am Mrs Graca Machel Mandela the wife of south African icon and freedom fighter late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela The former President of South Africa from 1994 till 1999 who died on December 5 2013, after a protracted lung infection contacted during his 27th years of incarceration in robin island prison. I managed to get your contact details online here in Johannesburg South Africa in my desperate search for a trustworthy person to assist me in this confidential business transaction. As the Third wife of late Nelson Mandela, he deposited cash in a secured firm on my name in Accra Ghana, for self keeping, he did this because he knew that upon his death, his lioness wife Winnie Mandela might use all her structural contacts within the AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS [ANC] to deny me what is due to me as his wife who looked after him all this period he has being on sick bed. As his instinct preinformed him, his fears is ongoing, as a Mozambiquean, all the family members have swooped on me Opposing me that I should hand
 
 
This is genuine and not of criminal origin. I must then emphasize that this transaction is highly confidential and is to be kept as such. Therefore indicate your full interest on assurance of trust, so that we can actualize this great opportunity together and share the benefit together by the help of God. and in the area you are not interested of this deal please kindly delete it immediately from your email, if interested kindly provide me with your full names, private phone for more discussion.
 
 
Yours sincere,
Mrs Graca Machel Mandela.

Anti-fraud resources: