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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: "DAVID COLE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidcole2015@yeah.net>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:15:30 +0100
Subject: YOUR KIND RESPONSE PLEASE

Dear friend,
 
I am David W. Cole, Principal Assurance manager for the First National Bank Texas. I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of William A Carpenter and an investment placed under our banks management 8 years ago.
 
I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.  William Carpenter engaged in business discussions with our private banking. He informed us that he had a financial portfolio of 20.35 million United States dollars to invest.  We spun the money around various opportunities and made margins for our first months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood at this point of 36.5 million USD. In mid 2011, he instructed that entire sum (36.5M) be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in Hong Kong. We got in touch with a security firm who agreed to receive this money for a fee and make cash available to William. However the security firm got in touch with us that this money has not been claimed. On enquiries we found out that William was involved in an accident in China, which means he died intestate.
 
I propose that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the beneficiary of these funds as Mr. William Carpenters next of kin. On verification, which will be the details I make available to my bank, my bank will instruct the security firm to make payments to you. For all your troubles I propose that we split the money in half which happens every time the banking circle or the money will revert to the state. Please, again, note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences please do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this.
 
Please get back to me immediately via my e-mail address:  or my US telephone:  +15126148274
 
I await your response.
Dr. David W. Cole
Tel : +1 5126148274
 

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