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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: "Dawood Family" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dawoodmrsmonica@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:44:23 -0800
Subject: Please Can You Help?

MRS MONICA DAWOOD
27 Orange Farm Orange Groove
Johannesburg South Africa.
Tel: +27-83-472-9864
Email:dawoodmrsmonica@yahoo.com
 
Attention: Sir,
          FAMILY ASSISTANCE PLEASE.
I have the honor and confidence to introduce to you about this transaction, obviously, you will be surprised to read this mail from me, consider it as a request from a family, indeed of foreign assistance. I got your contact information through Johannesburg chamber of commerce here in Johannesburg, South Africa.
I am Mrs. Monica Dawood the wife of Engr: Frank Yerati Dawood of Zimbabwe, it was the crisis against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the support of our President ROBERT MUGABEto claim all the white owned farms to his camp.
My husband was one of the best farmers to surrender all their farms to his camp. My husband was one of the best farmers in my country, because he opposed against MUGABE'S wills and ideas, his chambers invaded our farms, burnt everything in the farms, killed my husband and looted valuable things.
Mean while, before the death of my husband, my husband deposited  Twenty five Million United States Dollars {$25m) as a consignment in safe box in a private security company in here inSouth Africa. He wanted to use this money to buy new machines and tractors, but unfortunately he was killed during the crisis by this bad government.
We are living in South Africa as political asylum seekers, and the law of South Africa does not permit us certain rights. In view of this, we can not invest this money in Zimbabwe or in South Africa or continue farming, that is why I am asking you to assist us transfer this money out of South Africa for investment in your country.
The security company there in South Africa is ready to welcome any person (foreigner). Who has the correct legal documents and the information's of my late Husband, which I will give to you immediately if you are interested to do this transaction with me and be informed that I will come to your place for sharing accordingly?
At the conclusion, that is when the consignment must have been in your possession, I and my family has propose to give you 25% of the total amount,70% will be for me and my family and 5% will be set aside for any expenses both parties might incur during the operation.
Please, note that this transaction is 100% risk free, and my only fear is the safety of this money once it gets into your possession, I want you to assure me the safety of this money.
Send to me your private telephone/fax numbers for confidentially and for more details of this operation. I assure you that if you show me your readiness and trust in the next, (1) week, this transaction will be concluded.
I look forward for your urgent reply. or you can contact my son Ibrahim Dawood on Tel: +27-83-472-9864
 
Yours Faithfully
Mrs Monica Dawood

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