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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: "David James" <div_james200@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: d-james45@excite.com
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:03:28 -0500
Subject: FROM DAVID JAMES....

MR DAVID JAMES,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
CATCHET OIL COMPANY,
LONDON, UK.
TEL/FAX 44-8701-355-036
MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND
I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A HONEST PERSON WHOM I CAN
TRUST.PLEASE I BEG YOU TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION A SECRET UNTILL MY PLANS
HAVE BEEN EXECUTED.

I WANT YOU TO TREAT THIS TRANSACTION WITH UTMOST SECRECY, HONESTY AND
TRUTHFULNESS,AS AM ABOUT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO A BUSINESS THAT CAN CHANGE OUR
LIVES TOGETHER FOR GOOD.MY NAME IS MR DAVID JAMES, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
CACHET OIL, A MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATION OPERATING IN LONDON, ENGLAND. I AM
SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE TO CLAIM THE SUM OF ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS
($11.MILLION DOLLARS),THIS MONEY WAS REALISED IN THE JUST COMPLETED CONTRACT
AWARDED TO OUR COMPANY BY THE ENGLSIH GOVERMENT AND I WANT TO TRANSFER IT
OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR MY PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN OIL AND REAL ESTATE
MANAGEMENTS.
MY REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN CHEATED OUT OF MY ENTITLEMENTS BY
THE COMPANY FOR FAR TOO LONG, SIMPLY BECAUSE I AM NOT A BRITISH .THERE SEEMS
TO BE SO MUCH RACISM AND SEGREGATION IN THE COMPANY,HENCE MY REASON FOR
LEAVING.ILEFT THE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY THE MONEY WAS SUCCESFULLY SECURED IN A
SECURITY COMPANY IN AMERICA .(THE SECURITY COMPANY HAS AN OUTLET IN THE
U.S.A AND EUROPE/ASIA),
BUT THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE CONTENT OF THE BOXES, BECAUSE I
PACKAGED IT AS A CONSIGNMENT.
IF ONLY YOU CAN HELP ME CLAIM THE CONSIGNMENT FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY. I
AM
PROMSING TO GIVE YOU 30% OF THIS MONEY, WHILE 60% WILL COME TO ME AND THE
REMANING 10% I WILL GIVE YOU TO COVER UP ANY EXPENSES YOU MIGHT MAKE IN THE
COURSE OF RECEIVING THIS MONEY FOR ME AND I WILL ALSO GIVE THE DOCUMENTS
THAT I USE IN DEPOSITING THE BOXES.REPLY ALSO SENDING ME YOUR PERSONAL
INFORMATIONS, THAT IS ,YOUR NAME AND COMPANY NAME TELEPHONE LINE AND FAX,
OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME INCLUDING
SENDING OF THE KEYS TO THE BOXES TO YOU.
PLEASE I WILL APPRICIATE YOU, ONLY IF YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME THROUGH MY
ALTERNATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SECURITY REASONS, REPLY TO THIS MY ALTERNATIVE
OK AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE DETAILS.
BEST REGARDS,
MR DAVID JAMES,
CATCHET OIL COMPANY .LONDON, ENGLAND
FROM DAVID JAMES.



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