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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: "Prince Fayad.S. Bolkiah." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pfbolkiah@mail.ua>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 06:17:11 -0800
Subject: Dear Friend

         Good Day!
 
Prince Fayad
 
Dearest,
 
I got your reliable contact from your countrys Chamber of Commerce Directory and further explicit investment information about your country. I am Prince Fayad B.S. Bolkiah, the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, former Finance Minister of Brunei, the tiny oil-rich sultanate on the Gulf Island
 
I will save your time by not amplifying my extended royal family history, which has already been disseminated by the international media during the controversial dispute that erupted between my Father and his step brother, the sultan of Brunei Sheik Muda Hassanal Bolkiah.
 
As you may know from the international media, the sultan had accused my father of financial mismanagement and impropriety of US$14.8 Billion dollars. This was as a result of the Asian financial crisis that made my father's company Amedeo Development Company and government owned Brunei Investment Company to be declared bankrupt during his tenure in office. However my father was kept under house arrest, his bank accounts and private Properties including a crude oil export refinery were later confiscated by the sultanate.
 
Furthermore during this unfortunate period, I was advised to evacuate my immediate family outside the sultanate to avoid further prosecution from the sultan and his security operatives, but before I could do that I was placed under house arrest by the Sultan and have no access to a phone but I have a Palm hand-held computer from which I am sending you this mail.
 
Before my incarceration, I went ahead to moved the sum of Thirty Million United States Dollars (US$30,000,000.00) in cash under special arrangement into the custody of a private Security and Trustee company in London for safe keeping.
 
Hence I seek your good assistance to invest the fund into profitable investment in your country to facilitate future survival for my family abroad. I have decided to offer 20% of the fund to you as compensation for your strong cooperation while 5% have been mapped out for both local and international expenses that may be incurred during this transaction while you will keep the balance of the 75% for me and my family till my lawyer meets with you.
 
Please I count on your absolute Confidentiality, Transparency and Trust while looking forward to your prompt reply towards a swift conclusion of this business transaction.
 
You may contact me so that I will let you know the next thing to do.
 
May Allah's blessing remains with you.
 
I remain yours sincerely.
 
Prince Fayad.S. Bolkiah.
 
You can visit the websites below for a better understanding of the situation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/670959.stm

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