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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: nora sidney <sidney_nora74@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 15:22:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: hello


Please,
I apologise for any surprise which this mail might cause you as we did not know each other before. I am the daughter late Chief Mr/Mrs. Makatulu Sidney from Kwazulu Natal South Africa who lost their lives in plan crash which occurred in Cameroon on 7th of May 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6636013.stm My father was a well known dealer of cocoa and alluvial gold dust in West Coast here.
Please I am writing to seek your urgent assistance to transfer the sum of (US$4.5 Million) which he deposited in a fixed suspense account in Cote d’Ivoire where he meet his untimely death. He wanted to invest this money in cocoa business in Europe country before his sudden death.

The reason why I contacted you for this transfer is that just four months after the death of my parents, his brother has taken hold of all his properties and turned me into slave just because I am not a male son. Because of his evil plans against me, I ran away from our family house and hide myself from where I am communicating to you now. He can not find me until we have complete this transfer and I finally come over to meet you. I have with me all the relevant documents about the deposit which I will show you once you assure me that I can trust you.
I will give you 25% of the money and you will also keep the money in your account until I finish my education. Please write me at Thanks you in advance for your acceptance to assist me. I wait for your response.
Miss Nora Sidney.



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