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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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Fraud email example:

From: "James Ufre" <krams@attorney.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 3 May 2005 14:06:08 +0200
Subject: Business Proposal

Dear Sir/Madam
I am interested to know if you can Protect & Manage Fund belonging to Former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi. As one of his special advisers I am mandated to seek for a reliable and trustworthy company or individual to offer this service.
Presently he is under a severe investigation by the investigative group "Kroll" and the anti-graft group Transparency International (TI) for financial misappropriation and they have traced some of the money to accounts in London. To authenticate my seriousness please visit
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/3324369.stm>.
Kroll and (TI) have pledged to turn its attention to investigate banks and other financial institutions in Zimbabwe and South Africa and the likelihood that some of this money will be discovered is present. Therefore I will appreciate if you can help us move the sum US$40 Million (Forty Million United States Dollar) which is deposited in a Private Security Company in South Africa and protect it in your name.
He has agreed to fully compensate you with 20% of the money if you can help him successfully move this money to any safe account overseas. I am presently having talks with a banker who can help facilitate the transfer without raising suspicions. If you can assure me of your trust and confidentiality because of the Personality involved, you will never regret ever helping us.
Awaiting your soonest response.
Best regards,

James Ufre
krams@lawyer.com
+27732199987



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