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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 STARIQ ANI" <larrutyc1@tiscali.co.uk>
Reply-To: stariqani@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 14:19:17 +0100
Subject: ATTN MY GOOD FRIEND IT IS VERY URGENT,

FROM THE DESK OF
MR STARIQ ANI
TEL:234-803-5236520
E-MAIL:stariq_ani@ozu.es
DEAR SIR/MA,
REQUEST ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP IN A TRANSFER.
I AM A MEMBER OF A CONTRACT AWARD AND REVIEW COMMITTEE. A CONTRACT
ALREADY EXECUTED BY A FOREIGN FIRM IN AFRICA IN 2002 WAS OVER-INVOICED BY
US TO THE TUNE OF $35.5m (THIRTY-FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS ONLY).
IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE, I ASKED YOU FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OF
THE EXCESS FLOATING IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT YOU MAY
WISH TO PROVIDE, FOR IT WAS A CATEGORY "A" CONTRACT, (STRICTLY RESERVED FOR
A FOREIGN CONTRACTORS) THIS INFORM MY REQUEST, AND ALSO THAT I AM FORBIDDEN
BY MY GOVERNMENT TO RUN ANY FOREGN ACCOUNT.
AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER, 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL GO TO YOU FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE. 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL EXPENSES
INCURED BY BOTH PARTIES.
MORE DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE COURSE OF CORRESPONDENCE.
YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGLY REQUIRED SINCE I AM STILL IN ACTIVE
SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CORPORATION.
REGARDS,
MR STARIQ ANI (FSS, CFR)
NB: PLEASE REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS
:stariq_ani@ozu.es

___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
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Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/


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