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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: "mikewilliams@cantv.net" <mikewilliams@cantv.net>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:16:16 -0430
Subject: FROM MIKE WILLIAMS

FROM MIKE WILLIAMS
Abidjan cote d'ivoire
Tel; +22507408348

Dear Respectful,

Warm greetings to you and your family in the name of our lord Jesus Christ. I am Mike Williams the only son of late Mr and Mrs Richard Williams. My father was a very wealthy Rubber plantation merchant and the managing director of Agro Williams rubber plantation farm in Abidjan; the economic capital of Ivory Coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip.

My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me and my only kid sister (Joy) so special. Before the death of my father on November 2008 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of Ten million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars.USD($10.500,000) left in fixed / suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan ,that he used my name as his only son for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund.

He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as real estate management or hotel management.

Now, I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To serve as a guardian and foreign co-beneficiary of this fund.

(2) To make arrangement for me and my sister to come over to your country to further our education and to secure resident permit in your country.

I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the transfer of this fund into your account overseas.

Thank you for your signify interest to assist me and my sister. Hoping to hear from you soon. May God bless you and preserve our friendship in good faith.

Best Regards,
Mike Williams.

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