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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: "MR MORGAN FREEMAN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <get2morgan_freeman01@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2015 20:54:54 +0200
Subject: I will like to seek your help in a business proposal,

Hello Sir/Madam

I will like to seek your help in a business proposal, which although is sensitive by nature and not what I should discuss with someone I don’t know and have not met using a medium such as this but I do not have a choice .

My name is Mr. Morgan Freeman; I am a formal banker in Seychelles. I am contacting you with respect to transfer the sum of ($32,000,000) Thirty two Million United States Dollar) deposited by a major supplier of Agricultural Equipments in West Africa named Dr. Garcia Vijay, who died few years ago of cardiac arrest in Seychelles. After vivid investigation, I find out that the late depositor left his next of kin column empty when opening the account with my formal bank because the bank law stimulates that after 5 years where the next of kin did not appear for the claims, the fund will transfer into the government coffers.

To avert this negative development, I will like to seek for your permission as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Dr. Garcia Vijay, so that the fruits of this old man’s labour will not go into the government purse because they will use the money to sponsor themselves in politics and to enrich themselves.

Upon your interest in this, the money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 50% for me and 50% for you, for you to know the reason why I am contacting you is because I CANNOT HANDLETHIS ALONE so i need someone that will act as the beneficiary and in twelve working days from now, this money will be in your account. Before the arrival of this money into your account whatever the expenses incurred will be deducted before we split the money.

There is no risk involve in this project with my position in my formal bank I will make sure they make you the legal beneficiary and the legality of this project will correspond with local and international laws of inheritance.

All legal documents to aid you in claiming this fund and to prove your relationship with the deceased will be provided by me with the help of a local attorney that will represent you here in Seychelles. Your help will be appreciated with 50% of the total sum. Please accept my apologies and keep my confidence and disregard this letter if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you.

I anxiously wait for your urgent reply.

Best Regards
Morgan Freeman.

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