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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: "Yusuf Ali" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <replyprivate@w.cn>
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:50:58 +0100
Subject: E-mail Secret....

Dear One,
 
I am Yusuf Ali, i work in the Audit/Remittance department of Societe Generale Bank of Burkina (S.G.B.B) I have a business which will profit both of us, the amount of money involved is ($18.5 million US dollars) which i want to transfer out of my country to your account all to my financial benefits and yours too.
 
This money is owned by the late customer of our bank Mr Ono Choji from Japan a business commercialist in Africa regions, he as been dead since eight years ago and since then no claim has been placed on his bank account balance.
 
I want to transfer this money out of the country but such fund could be transferred in these way, the money will be transfer to your account as the business associate to the deceased person (Mr Ono Choji) as details shall be that you are the care-taker and business associate to Mr Ono Choji and his properties. I shall make available to you materials and information with which a successful claim shall be placed on the fund.
 
I shall be your guidiance and instructor throughout the duration of the this transaction so as to ensure a smooth transfer of the fund to your account, the maximum days for all this process will be 7 working day, within this time the money will have been in your account.
 
As to your benefits, you shall be entitle to 45% of this money for your co-operation in the transaction, while 5% will be set aside for any expenses both of us may have incured during the course of this transaction.
Please keep this proposal as top secret and delete if you are not interested, but if you are interested reply immediately with
 
Your name...........................................
Age..................................................
Sex..................................................
Country.............................................
Occupation..........................................
Phone number.........................................
 
Best Regards,
Yusuf Ali.
 

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