419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Rachael Koffi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kofffrach@mail.mn>
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:51:47 -0700
Subject: =?Windows-1251?B?VEg=?=
=?Windows-1251?B?SVMgTUVTU0FHRSBJUyBNRUFOVCBGT1IgT1VSIE1VVFVBTCA=?=
=?Windows-1251?B?QkVORUZJVA==?=

Greetings from Rachael

In confidence,i have to introduce myself for I am Rachael Koffi , 21 years old, I am the only child of late Mr Lamboley Koffi . I prayed before contacting you, please for God sake do not see my mail as embrassment as we do not know each other. I wish to request for your assistance in my efforts to procure the transfer of my inherited money for investment ventures under your care and directive,while i continue my education of there in your country. My late father want to Bouak?, A Northern part of the country to negotiate for the purchase of a cocoa plantation when he was shot by the rebel troupes fighting to take over the Government of the country.Though he did not died immediately but after two days at the hospital he gave up the ghost but before his death, he gave me all papers indicating that he deposited the sum Ten Million five hundred thousand ( US10,500,000.00) here in my name with one of the prime bank in my country and I will require your assistance in receivin
g
the transfer of my inheritance.

Please i am an orphan I need your assistance to transfer my inherited money to your country and also your assistance to secure a nice school for me in your country where I will continue my education .Please I am waiting to hear from you soonest
Yours sincerely,
Rachael Koffi
Address: Treichville Abidjan
(Cote d'Ivoire ) West Africa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam