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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: Barrister Joseph <josephs68@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Barrister Joseph <joseph97972227@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:51:30 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Greetings


Greetings to you. Just a quick message to brief you about late Mr. Álfonso who shared the same surname with you, I am his lawyer in the Republic of Togo. I privately contact you because you and my client share the same surname. He died 5 years ago here Lome Togo and since then, his bank account became dormant and the total of U.S$6.701,000.00 (Six million, seven hundred and One thousand US Dollars) being his account balance is still in the bank because there is no next of kin or his relative to claim the fund. The bank here has asked me to search for any of his relatives to inherit the money but, I tried several times but I do not know any of his relatives in your country. So, to avoid the bank embezzling this money, I need your help to cooperate with me to move the money into your account, I want you to apply to the bank as the relative and next of kin to late Mr. Álfonso who deposited this fund.
I contact you because you have the same surname with my late client, immediately the money is transferred into your account as your inherited fund, you will take 45% of the total money and I will take 50% and 5% will be used to repay any expense made during the transfer. Please understand that this should be a business deal between only you and me and which we should handle with utmost confidentiality, honesty and urgency. Be assured that this transaction is 100% risk free. However, If you wish to cooperate with me to transfer the money into your account, reply quickly so that I can open further communication with you as partner in this business.
Many thanks.

Sincerely,
Barrister  Joseph Smith.
+228 97972227


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