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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: Olivia Komouth <san_wuma002@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: oliviakomouth@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:21:21 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Greeting my dear,




Greeting my dear,

It is my pleasure to seek your opinion and also to confide in you for a business partnership. Though we have not met before, but I believe one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life. I am Ms.Olivia Komouth ; I'm from Bouake in northern part of the Cote d’Ivoire. I contacted you for this noble transaction to seek you help and advice since I am too young to handle it alone. The sum of Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand US Dollars was deposited in a bank by my father in Abidjan economic capital of Cote d’Ivoire which he wanted to used for his political ambition, before he was assassinated.

Due to the situation I found myself, I have decided to invest this money in your country, because of the frequent political instability and also for security reasons and the worst part of it, is that my uncles are trying to kill me over this money because I refused to hand over the documents covering this money to them. They has sold all my father's landed properties which rightful belong to me and has been on my nerves to give them details on the deposited money, which I refused. My life is now at stake so I ran away from my City to Abidjan, hiding in a hotel pending when this money will be released. I seek your assistance in the following ways:

(1.) To provide a bank account where this money can be transferred into.
(2.) To make arrangements for me to come to your country after the successful transfer of this money into your account, and further my education.
(3.) To help invest this money in a profitable business since I am not old enough to handle such matters
(4). I want you to promise me that you are not going to betray me after the money gets into your account since that is what I have left.

I will be pleased to offer you reasonable percentage of the total fund while the balance will be invested with your help. NOTE: I have all the necessary documents backing me up as the next of kin, If you are willing to assist me , please do not hesitate to contact me for further details and also hope you will handle this transaction with almost confidentiality and transparency it deserves.
Yours Sincerely
Ms.Olivia Komouth

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