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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: Grace Barrim <eliza_jj04@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: eliza_jj03@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:08:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: My name is Mrs.Grace Barrim.


My name is Mrs.Grace Barrim.
I came in contact with your profile and therefore picked interest for a business relationship with you, though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk, confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life
.
I was married to Dr. Williams Barrim who worked with Cote'd Ivoire embassy in Sierra Leone for nine years before he died in the year 2005
We were both married for eight years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only nine days.
 
When my late husband was sitll alive he deposited some amount of money  with a security firm here in Abidjan ,$6.5 Million.(Four  Million Five hundred thousand U.S.D). At the point of his death he told me of this money and directed me where the documents pertaining the deposit was. He told me that I am the only beneficiary as he believes that his family was behind his illness. Presently, this money is still with the Security Firm.(Name of the security company withheld now for personal reasons)
 
I am looking for a God fearing foreign partner who will help to retrieve this money from the security company and retransfer it into his /her
account outside Africa for investment purposes. The political situations here in Africa did not give any encouragement for investors or investments.
 
 
As soon as I receive your reply mail I shall give you the contact of the Company.I will also issue to you a letter of authority that will empower you as the beneficiary of this fund. I have decided that you will get 15% of the total amount for your assistance to me immediately after the conclusion of the transaction.
I would like the money to be managed in a profitable manner preferably a joint venture business with you if possible.
 
 
Please I will like you to note that this money is of no criminal origin as  my late husband was a subsidiary agent of Gold miners associations in Sierra Leone before his death.
 
I am assuring you that I have all the Documents about this fund, I will really like to live this Country because of the political problem here last Year Nevember 28th here election was hold and cancel, to be hold again on 28th of this November so please I will like to live this Country before the election all I am assuring I have all the Document and this transaction will not take more than two days it will be completed.
 
All I need from you is to assure me that this fund is save in your hands.
 
Get back to me urgently with your direct telephone number so that I can call you, and give you more details on how we can proceed fast and conclude this transaction.  
Hoping to hear from you ASAP.
Best wishes,
Mrs. Grace Barrim .



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