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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: Miss Michael <ritamichael9@gmail.com>
Reply-To: michaelrita404@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 10:57:20 +0000
Subject: Miss Michelle

FOR YOUR HELP

My name is Miss Michelle looking for a trustworth y, sincere and
honest someone like you who can help me in this time of needs, during
the civil and political crisis in our country,my parents together with
my three sisters was poisoned by heartless elements that called
themselves his brother and wicked relatives. Fortunatel y for me, I
was in the school when this tragedy took place to my family. I was in
coma for almost two weeks. But I thank the almighty God because I
never knew that I could support the shock of losing almost my whole
family. That is by the way.Right now I am still here in country but
very unsafe for me. I'm living in great fear and bondage. I intend
leaving this country as

soon as possible but only one thing kept me back. My late father has
deposited with one of the prime institutio n in Europe the sum of
money, $3.2Millio n , for onward transfer But unfortunat ely he did
not complete the transactio n before he sudden died. I have all the
documents concerns this money in the bank and receipt of deposit with
which my late father made the deposit, I have mapped out 15% out of
the total money for your help and assistance because it looks stupid
for me trying to confide in a total stranger I never met before . By
instinct I am convinced you are an honest person and you have the
capacity to handle this transactio n with me. As soon as it is done, I
will come over with to meet you and spend the rest of my live in your
country. I wish to invest the money into estate business and other
good business you may propose. I promise to greatly compensate you for
any assistance you may offer me. I do not know how you may

feel about this but I want you to take this very serious and
confidenti al. Down here, I am living in fear because enemies, uncles
and wicked relatives of my parents are hunting for me. Please let me
know your mind concerning my proposal to you,
May God bless you,
Miss Michelle

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