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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: Paul Olds <oldsjr_2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <paul@neu.com.cn>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 05:53:54 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE, From Paul Olds Jr.



Good day dear

I am Paul Olds Jr., son of late Mr. Martin Olds, a farmer from republic of Zimbabwe, you may be aware of what is happened in my country years back and what is still happening in my country, and that is my reason for contacting you for your assistance and the benefit of both of us.

You may please browse the websites below to know what I am saying.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/0418/zimbabwe.html
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/08/12/violence.zimbabwe/

My father was among the rich and successful farmers in our country, he was victimized because of his opposition to Mugabe's policies. Mugabe's supporters invaded my father's farm and burnt everything in the farm, shot my father and made away with a lot of items in my father's farm.

My father before his death deposited with one of the Bank in Accra Ghana the sum of US$ 5.2 Million United States Dollars, with the aim of buying water dredging company/equipments in setting up of a dredging firm in Ghana.

Due to the constant insecurity in Zimbabwe, we have to run for our dear life to Republic of Ghana with the assistance of United Nation official. We came to Ghana under United Nation Immunity; unfortunately my beloved Mother died and left me with my only junior brother Mike who is seriously sick now in the refugee camp.

We will need your help to secure the fund my late Father deposited here in Ghana to your country and plan for the investment as I have no knowledge of business. Due to the nature of my stay here, I don't have my traveling papers, because we are staying at refugee camp seeking for asylum, therefore I urge you to assist us get the fund out to your place so that we will plan for our life.

We will give you 40% from the total amount for your effort of assisting us, all the documents of the deposited fund is with me, you will go through it when I will send them to you as we proceed.

The essence of this mail is to open up communication with you to enable us know each other as regards to our plan to invest our money judiciously with you. Please feel free to email me for further clarification on our intention to partner with you. God bless you as I will be looking forward to hear from you.

Thanks for your response and God bless you.
Olds Paul Jr.
+233241925887




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