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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: sao de <saodef@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: defernade@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:03:06 -0800 (PST)
Subject: INWARD INVESTMENT /SEND YOUR DETAILS/REFERENCE


ATTN:C.E.O

I am Assunção Fernandes, the Chairman of the Finance Committee on public accounts of the Democratic Republic Of Sao Tome and Principe a small oil rich island off the coast of West Africa), a floating deficit has being discovered in our account with an European bank and seek to transfer this money abroad for investment purpose.your person and company are appreciated to use you to claim the funds as our contractor whom his payment has being over due and willing to place sum of $35m in your company as our interest is in companies with potentials for rapid growth in long terms,please do contact me by for more details for i am in Europe now for this Purpose.

Regard,

Assunção Fernandes.

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