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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: "tina kofi" <tina_taylor1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2005 00:17:35 +0000
Subject: GOODDAY


GOOD DAY TO YOU,
FIRST I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION
AND I
PRAY THAT MY DECISION TO CONCTANT YOU WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE APPROVAL
CONSIDERING THE FACTS WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH OTHER BEFORE
I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU. MY NAME
IS TINA KOFI FROM TOGO IN WEST AFRICA. I WRITE TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO
INVEST, AND TO
BY A LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF KING JOHN KOFI
MY FATHER WAS KILLED BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL ASYLUM IN TOGO(LOME).
MY FATHER BEFORE HE DIED, HE WILL TO ME THE SUM OF $40MILLION U.S DOLLARS.
WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY BOX IN GHANA(ACCRA) FOR
SAFE KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT
OF THE BOXES TO THE SECURITY COMPANY.
TO AVOID THE OFFICIAL FROM RAISING EYE BROWS.
I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST I CAN INVEST THIS MONEY, BECAUSE
MY FATHER ONCE TOLD ME THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY HERE IN
AFRICA.
THAT IS WHY I WANT TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY AND I NEED YOUR FOREIGN
ASISTANCE TO STAND FOR ME AS NEXT OF KIN, SO THAT THE MONEY WILL
BE TRANSFERED TO YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY AND I WILL OFFER YOU 30% OF THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF THE MONEY. I HAVE ALL VITAL DOCUMENT COVERING THE DEPOSIT AND
OWNERSHIP.
NOTE: I HAVE NOT DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART FROM YOU, SO YOU HAVE TO
KEEP THIS VERY VERY CONFIDENTIAL.
WARMS REGARD,
TINA KOFI


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