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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: cynthia babara <cynthia_babara@att.net>
Reply-To: cynthia_babara_100@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 22 May 2010 21:11:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Miss cynthia babara


Miss cynthia babara
 
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I got your contact from the International web site directory.
I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to it’s esteeming nature and the recommendations given to me as a reputable and trust worthy person I can do business with and by their recommendations I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business.
 
I am Miss cynthia babara, the only daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. James My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan , the economic capital of Ivory Coast , before he was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outing to discus on a business deal. When my mother died on the 21st October 1998, my father took me special because I am Motherless. Before the death of my father on 30th June 2006 in a private hospital here in Abidjan
 
He secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a sum of $15.5M (Fifteen Million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) left in a suspense account with one of the Bank here in Abidjan, that he used my name as his only daughter for the next of kin in deposit of the fund. My Father also explained to me that it was because of this wealth and some huge amount of money his business associates supposed to balance him from the deal they had, that was why he was poisoned to by his business associates, that I should seek for a God fearing 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).
Dear One I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways.
 
1) To provide a Bank account where this money would be transferred to.
2) To serve as the guardian of this since I am a Girl of 19 years.
 
Moreover, I am willing to offer you 20% of the sum as compensation for effort input after the successful transfer of this fund to your designate account overseas. If you can help me on this deal kindly get back to me.
 
 
Thanks and God Bless.
Best regards.
Miss cynthia babara

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