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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: "Usuman Ahmed" <usumanahmed013@msn.com>
Reply-To: drusumanahmed@plasa.com
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:29:30 +0000
Subject: ATTN MY GOOD FRIEND

FROM THE DESK OF
Dr Usuman Ahmed
TEL:234-8060858442
E-MAIL:drusumanahmed@plasa.com
E-MAIL:drusumanahmed10000@yahoo.com


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.

Dr Usuman Ahmed (FSS, CFR)
NB: PLEASE REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS
:E-MAIL:{drusumanahmed@plasa.com} or {drusumanahmed10000@yahoo.com}


Anti-fraud resources: