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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: "stellantiwa12@zipmail.com.br" <stellantiwa12@zipmail.com.br>
Date: Sat, 1 Jun 2013 12:52:47 -0300
Subject: Dearest one,

Dearest,
 
 I'm Stella Ntiwa from Ivory Coast . I am a college student and I am 20 years old. My father worked with the Ivory Coast Embassy in France, he was also a famous rich farmer until death took him away in the year 2012. He died after a brief illness that lasted for some weeks. I live alone here in Abidjan since after his death. Although I have not met you before, but I believe that to succeed sometimes in life one must take risks, trusting in someone said my late father.
 
  I want to enter into a mutual business relationship with you. I am in possession of a reasonable amount of money which I want to invest in your country. Recently, I took the decision to transfer and invest this money in overseas due to political problems in my country.

 My only problem is to get a capable and honest person who can help me to transfer and invest this money in a reliable but profitable investment. Presently, this money is still in the bank an d I am the sole beneficiary. As soon as you show me your interest to help me, I will give you the contact of the bank where this money is deposited. The amount deposited in the bank is USD4,500,000.00, I am willing to offer you 20% of the total money while 80% will be used for investment when transferred to your account. 
 
  I hope to receive your sincere reply.

Thanks,
Stella

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