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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: "Gold Ref" <regsteve@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:25:23 +0000
Subject: PRIVATE LETTER.


*Mutual Benefits Request
From Mr.Steve Rodriquez.


Please accept my sincere apology if my proposal does not meet your business
or
personal ethics, my name is Mr.Steve Rodriquez a Banker with Standard Bank
here in
South Africa,I am the account officer to Ms.Arvelo Doryce,an American who
has a
domiciliary account with our Bank worth USD$6,200,000,00.

On the recent meeting held by the Board of directors of my Bank,it was top
in the
agenda to look for any of Ms. Arvelo Doryce relatives since she is not forth
coming
for annual up dates on her funds for decades and to avoid moving her funds
to the
Escrow account as unclaimed funds.

As her account officer,I decided to contact you so that this deal will be
strictly
between you and me,as I will present your data's to the Bank Directors as
the
relative to Ms.Arvelo Doryce to enable them transfer the funds to you
through my
perfected plans towards the entire transaction.

But if you are not interested please do not disclose or discuss this to any
one to
avoid lapses with my plans.

It is my intention to form a company with you when the funds are transfered
into your Bank account.

I wait to urgently hear from you with your information to enable us proceed
immediately.

Regards,
Steve Rodriquez.


*

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