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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: Dudu Mavundla <mis.mavundla@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2011 14:40:22 +0200
Subject: Copy of his ID that he sent to me to exchange with mine for mutual trust!

A.M ZAHARIL & CO (Advocates & Solicitors)
No.5-3 Jalan PJU 5/10 PJU 5 Dataran Sunway,
Kota Damansara 47810 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.


Attention Duduzile Mavundla,

I am Ahmad Zaharil,barrister at law.A deceased client of mine by name Mr.
Bimar Mavundla, who herein after shall be referred to as my client,died as
the result of a heart-related condition in March 12th 2005. His heart
condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the
tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my
client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where
this deposit valued at $19million dollars is lodged.

This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin,or the account
will be confiscated.My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present
you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late client,since you have the
same last name so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then
we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next of kin will be
secured gradually and forwarded to you. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.This will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law.

If this business proposition offends your moral values,do accept my
apology.Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.

Regards,

Barr. Ahmad B. M. Zaharil.
Senior Advocate/Solicitor.

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