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

Fraud email example:

From: "MIKE VANDROS" <mike_vandros@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:35:01 +0000
Subject: PLEASE KINDLY ASSIST ME

I am the personal assistnt to LATE Mrs Stella Obasanjo who died in
Spain
on the 22nd of October, 2005 while undergoing a tommy surgery.

Before she died, she personally called me and disclosed to me that she
deposited the sum of US$30m dollars with a private security company in
Spain. She gave me all the documents relating to the money.

Now, that she is dead and the family members are not aware of the
money, I want to divert the money to my own account, through the help of a
trusted foreigner.

However, because I am a civil servant, we are not allowed to operate
foriegn bank accounts. I want you to please provide and account into
which we can transfer the money to, pending when I can resign my
appointment after the usual audit.

I will personally visit your country for the sharing of the money and
my eventual relocation to Asia or Europe.

I will adequately compensate you from the proceed of this transaction.

One thing is required. That is confidentiality.

Please on no account must you disclose this to any other person.

Reply please.

Mike Vandros


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