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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: "Mr. Robert Ahmed Poi" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:22:47 +0530
Subject: Assist Invest this funds for charity

Good day,

Assist Invest this funds for charity

Your first reaction to this mail will be total rejection, scare and maybe disbelief, simply
because of the atrocities some people commit these days on the Internet, but believe me
what I'm about to let you know right now is true and before man and GOD. My name is Mr.
Robert Ahmed Poi, I am from Malaysia . I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It
has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to
live, according to medical experts.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my
immediate and extended family members as well as few close friends .I want God to be
merciful to me and accept my soul so,I have decided to give alms to charity organizations,
as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have Distributed
money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Somalia and Malaysia. Now that my health
has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money
which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept
the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be
contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows about is
the huge cash deposit that I have with a Bank Abroad. I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations. Kindly note that 35% of this funds must go to
the tsunami victims,50% to other Charity Organization and 15% for your effort and time. I
cannot talk with you on the phone due to my health situation, as I am using my Laptop
Computer to communicate with you. You should respond to My personal E-Mail:
robertap1974@yahoo.com if you are interested in

Helping me carry out this assignment on my behalf. God be with you.

Mr. Robert Ahmed Poi

Anti-fraud resources: