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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. Francios Pinault" <admin@noeltp.ga>
Reply-To: fcpiantult@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2018 03:16:12 -0800
Subject: hello

Dear Sir/Madam,

I might not know your present condition and what you are going through in life, but I believe that this money will be of good help to you and your family. I am François Pinault, I am a French Citizen and a businessman, 81 years old, and worth $15.9 billion US Dollars. Clink on the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Pinault

The intention of this email is to be of immense blessing to people, at my age, I cannot continue to amass wealth without giving out. I might not have the liberty of time due to my illment (Dementia), therefore, I am doing this now. I have handed all my wealth to my children, but there is part of it which nobody is aware of. I have been putting it away for this purpose since a long time now. I want to cede it out as gift for you to help Orphanages homes in your country, and hoping it would be of help to you and others too, as this is my last wish to appreciate God for his grace upon my life. I would have done this myself but for my health reason and if I do it through my oldest son, François-Henri Pinault, I am very certain he will not help anyone with it. François-Henri Pinault took me to court the last time I gave out money out of generosity. I have made life worth living for myself and my family, it is my hope that you are able to receive this money, all I want from you is to be honest with me and help others from it too.

10% of my worth I've been putting away in a private deposit for a long time now and have reached an amount of $73,500,000.00. I am trying to cede this money in portions through the bank I deposited it to as many as can benefit from it because I do not really have much to do with it. As I send this message to you, I am also sending to churches, Orphanages, and individuals, 10% to you and others each to whom I have contact with already. Now, all this being said, if you know you are ready to receive the funds $7,350,000 (Seven Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars).

Then will I give you a letter to receive your portion of the money from the bank. This is my personal money and does not need many formal procedures, some beneficiaries have received theirs. My only term is that you be sincere to me and help the less privilege people that's all. Please make it fast because I have only a few days to use a computer since the doctors have given instructions to stop me from the use of electronics.

As I wait your response, I wish you a wonderful day.

Yours Faithfully,
François Pinault

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