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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "MR MOHAMED YAYA" <mohammed19492003@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mohammed_yaya12@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 19:09:05 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR MOHAMED YAYA



FROM THE DESK OF MR MOHAMED YAYA
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
BANK OF AFRICA
LOME TOGO.
TEL:00228-938-3146
EMAIL/mohammed_yaya12@yahoo.com

Urgent Attention,

I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in
any manner compel you to honour against your will.

I am 50, and work with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the
West Coast). Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 8
years which belong to a American national who is now late Mr.Raymond
Beck Mrs. Dorene Beck who died on Egypt Air Flight990

http://www.s-t.com/daily/11-99/11-02-99/d08ho174.htm.
When I discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from
this account for this long period, I decided to carry out a system
investigation and discovered that non of the family member nor relations of
the late person is aware of this account.

This is the story in a nutshell.

Now I want an account overseas where the bank will transfer this
funds.Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all related documents for this
account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months I have
worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation.
The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated
interest the balance in this account stands at-(US$ 9.5 million US
dollars).

Now our questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission? If you can sponsor this transfer.

Consider this and get back at us as soon as possible.
Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as contained
herein be accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy
it deserves. I Expect your urgent response if you can handle this
project. Call me at this direct line +228 938-3146 or email me at my private email account mohammed_yaya12@yahoo.com for mail confirmation.

Respectfully yours,
Mohamed Yaya.



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