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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: "Farrah Ibrahim Hamad" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fih1956737336@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:42:24 -0700
Subject: Assalamualaikum.

Assalamualaikum,
 
My name is Mrs. Farrah Ibrahim Hamad, Homs city of Syria.
 
I am contacting you for an urgent assistance you can render to me, due to the situation here in Syria, those of us in the business circle are finding it very difficult to cope with the situation here, no stable government, bomb explosion strategic places everywhere, sometimes people find it very difficult to go about their normal businesses due to fear of being victim of terrorist attack, above all, the crisis in Syria has made business activities totally paralyzed for quite some time now, for instance, no good telephone facilities, no adequate security, in fact, all the basic infrastructure were destroyed during the recent war in Syria, ever since then the environment in Syria has never been conducive business wise.
 
I need your urgent assistance, I have about $10.5 Million US Dollars in my custody, I inherited the money from my late husband who was an Major General in Syrian Army in charge of purchase and maintenance. My intention is to move the money out of Syria and invest the money in any strong and profitable investment with the help of an honest and since person who will work with me as my foreign associate.
 
I really want to invest the money abroad to avoid losing the money, because it is not wise doing business in the atmosphere of fear in Syria, that's the reason why I need your urgent assistance, to stand and receive the money for safe keeps and investment purpose.
 
If you agree to receive the money on my behalf, I will give you total of 30%, while you help me invest the sum of 70% in a strong and profitable investment as soon as possible, because the situation here in Syria is very critical, the everyday bomb explosion seems to have no end.
 
May the Almighty Allah bless you!
 
Hope to hear from you soon.
 
Best Regards,
Mrs. Farrah Ibrahim Hamad.

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