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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: micheal amd <mic87170@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2014 19:16:46 +0000
Subject: Attn: Dear,

I am from Cote D'Ivoire the largest Cocoa producing nation in Africa. The
source through which I got your contact gave me the confidence to contact
your kind assistance to help us to transfer and secure the ($9,150,000.00
Million) I inherited from my late father for investment in ur country. My
late father was a wealthy Agricultural Business man of Cocoa & Gold, before
his tragic death, he handed me the deposit documents because our mother
died many years ago.

I want to invest this money in ur peaceful country and with your experience
i think you are in good position to assist me and my sister and to come
over to your country with my only younger sister to further our education
after the transfer of the money to you as our guardian.
I am just undergraduate and don't know what to do because I have suffered
lots set backs as a result of the political crisis of my country and the
death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life.
Your suggestions and ideas will be appreciated and am willing to offer you
20% of the total money for your help. I hope to hear from you to give U
more info about myself and
Best regards,
Please E-MAIL me back with this address : ( michealad@voila.fr )
Micheal & Sandra

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