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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: "Mr. Isa George Jr" <isa_george02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: george_much@walla.com
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:46:06 +0000
Subject: Final Notification: Mr. Michiel

Good Day.
Mr. Michiel

I saw your name ( in our Central Computer among the list of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries that was originated from Africa, Europe, Asia Plus Middle east, Americans ) among the list of individuals and companies that your unpaid fund has been located to our Bank. Your Long overdue Payment.
 
Your name appeared among the beneficiaries, who will receive a part-payment of your contractual sum of Ten million usd, which has been approved already for months now. However, we received an email from one MR MOREEN MARTINS who told us that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last week. he has also submitted his Bank account info: for us to transfer the fund to him including his International passport, we need to confirm if you are dead or not, before we can make the transfer to him.
 
Once again, I apologize to you on behalf Of IMF (International Monetary Fund) <http://www.imf.org/external/np/omd/bios/rrf.htm> failure to pay your funds in time, which according to records in the system had been long overdue. Also send me your phone line, and rightful address, You are adviced to reply immediately.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Isa George (Jr)
Secretary To General Auditor


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