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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: maureen jaffar <maureenjaffar1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: maureenjaffar@cantv.net
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:54:39 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Hello My Dear,


Hello My Dear,
 
Permit me to inform you of my desire to go into business relationship with you, after going through your profile and I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to the nature of my proposal, which requires a reputable and trustworthy person. Someone who will be kind and sincere to me. I am writing to seek your partnership in the investment of my inheritance.
 
I am Ms Maureen Jaffar. From Ivory Coast, I am an orphan and I need your honest assistance to transfer my inheritance (USD$6.700, 000.00) which my late father deposited in a security company. here that he used my name as the only daughter for his next of kin in deposit of the funds. befor his assasination for reason which I will let you know as soon as I hear your quick reply. I am honourable seeking your assistance in the following ways.
 
(1) To serve as my guardian in your country while I will depend on your expert advise since l am a girl of 20 years.
 
(2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country in order to further my university education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country. Moreover l am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your assistance in the transfer of this deposit to your country. Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as l believed that this project would be concluded within seven days you signify interest to assist me by contacting the security company.
 
Hoping to hearing from you soon. May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to an orphan.
 
Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret and delete it if you are not interested in assist me, I wish you a happy day.
 
Best wishes
 
Sincerely,
 
Ms Maureen Jaffar

Anti-fraud resources: