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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: Helen Zafara <helen00225@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2014 11:13:06 -0700
Subject: Greetings From Miss Helen Zafara Lumba.,

Greetings From Miss Helen Zafara Lumba.,

With all due respect, I want you to read my letter with one mind and
help me. I am Miss Helen Zafara Lumba, The only daugther of late Mr.
and Mrs. Zafara Lumba.

My Father was the Chief accountant of Sierra Leone Gold & diamond
Mining Corporation during our 8 years civil War , when Major Johnny Paul
Koroma was the country's president before he was poisoned to death by
his business associates on one of their outing to discuss on a
business deal.

My mother died when she was given birth to me, my father took me
so special because I am motherless. Before the death of my late father
on 22nd June 2013 in a private hospital here in Abidjan Ivory Coast.
He secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a sum of
12 million United States dollars left in a suspense account in a local
bank here in Abidjan Ivory Coast, that he used my name as his only
daugther for the next of kin in deposit of the fund.

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 real estate agent,

I am 26 year old. Dear I am honorably seeking your assistance in the
following ways.

1) To provide any bank account where this money would be transferred into.

2) To serve as the guardian of this fund.

3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further
my education and to secure a residential permit for me in your
country.Moreover,

I am willing to offer you 40 percent of the total sum as compensation
for your effort input after the successful transfer of this fund to
your nominated account overseas.I want you to help me not because of
the 40 percent I want to offer you but to take me as your adoptive
child and take good care of my life.

Please save my life.Hope to hear from you immediately for more details
for you to receive the money.

Thanks and God Bless.
Best regards,
Miss Helen Zafara Lumba.

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