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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "PAUL MANDI" <paulmandi@msn.com>
Reply-To: paulmandi@myway.com
Date: Sun, 09 Oct 2005 02:02:41 +0000
Subject: Hsbc Bank London

FOREIGN REMMITANCE DEPARTMENT,
HSBC LONDON,

Hello,

I AM PAUL MANDI, THE ( P.A) PERSONNEL ASSISTANCE TO
THE DIRECTOR FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT OF HSBC BANK LONDON.
I WAS DIRECTED TO INQUIRE FROM YOU IF YOU CAN HANDLE THIS
TRANSACTION ON BEHALF OF MY BOSS AND HIS DEVOTED
COLLEAGUES.

THE TRANSACTION IS ABOUT ASSISTING US AS OUR FORIEGN
PARTNER TO ENABLE US PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF
KIN/BENEFICIARY OF THE USD$1.3MILLION DOLLARS LEFT BY
OUR LATE CUSTOMER WHO DIED SINCE JANUARY 2001 ALONGSIDE
WITH HIS FAMILY OF TWO IN A GHASTLY ACCIDENT.

BE INFORMED THAT THE FUND WAS RE-DEPOSITED IN ONE OF
THE PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY IN LONDON FOR YOUR SAFE CLAIM
OF THE FUND,UPON YOUR RESPONSE DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE AND OTHER
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WILL BE PREPARED IN YOUR NAME,FOR EASY CLAIM OF THE
FUND FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY.

YOU WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH 25% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR
YOUR HELP, WHILE 5% WIL LBE SET-ASIDE TO RE-IMBURSED BOTH
PARTIES FOR ANYEXPENSES INCURRED IN THIS TRANSACTION. WE WILL
SHARE THE BALANCE OF 70% AMONG OURSELVES AS THE INITIATOR.

THE FUND IS CURRENTLY IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT AWAITING
CLAIM. WE WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE TRANSACTION
WHEN WE RECIEVE YOUR RESPONSE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

YOURS SINCERELY,
PAUL MANDI.


Anti-fraud resources: