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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: Suria <she68249317gra@gmail.com>
Reply-To: s246m817b@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2017 13:18:47 +0800
Subject: I do need your assistance.


Hi, how are you and your family? I have been in search for someone bearing
this name in your country therefore when I saw your name, I am pleased to
contact you and determine how best we can assist each other. I am working
with a savings company here in Ipoh, Perak of Malaysia as the manager of
the warehouse department. I believe it is in my destiny for me to have come
across your name. I have a business I wish to share with you. I believe it
will interest you, because it is in connection with your name and you will
benefit from it.

A citizen of your country deposited a consignment of Two Million, Eight
Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars, with the company I am
working with in 2014 for 36 calendar months, and the due date for the
deposit contract is 30th of January 2017. Sadly, he was among the dead
victims in the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan. He was in Japan on
a business trip where he met his end. The company headquarters’ boss does
not know about his death. I knew about it because he was my friend and I
was the officer in charge of his consignment at the time he made the
deposit. He did not mention a beneficiary. He was not married and had no
children. Last week our company headquarters’ boss requested that I should
give instructions on what to do about his consignment. Should we, renew the
contract or not?

I anticipated that this would happen so that is why I started looking for a
means to handle the situation. If our company headquarters’ boss finds out
your benefactor is dead and does not have a beneficiary, he will take the
consignment for himself. I do not want this to happen. When I saw your
name, I was pleased. I am seeking your co-operation to name you as
beneficiary to the consignment; since you have the same last name with the
deceased, our company’s headquarters will deliver the consignment to you.
If you claim this consignment, the company boss will not be allowed take
it. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share as follows: you
will take 50% and I will take 50% after the company headquarters delivers
the money to you. My share will assist me in starting my own company, which
I have been dreaming about for a long time. I am looking forward to your
response. Best regards, Suria.

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