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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: Andy Pavicic <othmankhairi66@gmail.com>
Reply-To: andypavicicmail@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 06:54:44 -0700
Subject: I need Maximum Trust From You.


Hello My Good friend,
I offer my friendship and believe you will accept me with good heart, I was
pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other. You don’t
know me but I believe God want us to know each other now. I believe it is
the wish of God for me to come across you. I am having an important
business discussion I wish to share with you, which I believe will interest
you because, it is in connection with your last name and you are going to
benefit from it. You know we are total stranger to each other but I believe
God has his reasons for bringing us together. Promise me to keep this
transaction between us. I need maximum trust from your side because we
never meet before. This must be treated confidential. A citizen of your
country Sir. Rayan had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2006 for 106
calendar months, valued at US$8,000,000.00 (Eight Million United State
Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of January
2013.
He was among the death victims of deadly earthquake in China in 2008 that
killed over 5,000 people. He was in China on a business trip and that was
how he met his end. So bad: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7395496.stm My bank
management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was
my friend and I am his account officer. He did not mention any Next of Kin/
Heir when the account was opened, was not married and no children. Last
week my Bank Management requested that i should give instructions on what
to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I know this will happen
and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation,
because if my Bank Directors happens to know that he is dead and do not
have any Heir, they will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't
want such to happen. That was why when I saw your last name I was happy and
I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to
the account, since you have the same last name with him and my bank head
quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved; the
transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of law. It is better that we claim the money,
than allowing the Bank Directors to take it, they are rich already. I am
not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds, 50/50% to both
parties, my share will assist me to start my own company which has been my
dream. Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information
as TOP SECRET.
I will give details about me on next mail.

We can as well discuss this on phone, let me know when you will be
available to speak with me on phone.

Have a nice day and God bless.
Andy

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