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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: From Elizabeth Akai <hju@ona.att.ne.jp>
Reply-To: akai_0041@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 12:55:36 +0900
Subject: From Elizabeth Akai,

>From Elizabeth Akai,

I am very sorry if I may violate your policy or in any way or hurt your feelings by intruding into your privacy, actually, I am sincerely in need of your assistance. Please don't be offended. I felt I could make a good friend with you.

First and foremost and brief self introduction, I am Miss Elizabeth Akai, 19 years old and the only daughter of my late parents Mr.and Mrs. Akai Agurma My father was a highly reputable business magnate-(a cocoa merchant) who operated in the capital of COTE D’ IVOIRE.
During his days he was poisoned by his business associates who connived with his relative in one of their outings on a business trip and since then was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by his relatives who was so jealous of his wealth and progress. But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was a baby.

Before the death of my father in August 2005 he called the secretary who was with him at the hospital and told her that he had a sum of $3.5 million US DOLLARS (Three million five hundred thousand USD) Deposit with a bank in Cote d' Ivoire.

He also explained that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his relatives that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer these funds to and use it for investment purposes.

I want you to assist me transfer the funds to your country as I explain to you that this funds was deposited in the bank .I am just 19 years old and a high school leaving certificate holder and really don't know what to do. Now I want a guardian outside Cote d’ Ivoire where I can transfer this fund and equally come over to further my education because it is one of the instructions that my father left for me. This is because I have suffered a lot in my life after the death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. My dear, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestion and ideas will be highly regarded.

Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible, I am looking forward to hearing from you, please do not turn me down because you are the Gods sent that can help me out.

Thank you so much.
Elizabeth Akai

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