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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. Ed Anderson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.edandersonn@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 05:37:14 -0600
Subject: Dear Friend.

Good day,
You may be surprise to receive this mail since you dont know me personally, but with due respect, trust and humility, I write to you this proposal. I am Mr. Hamedani Mustafa the son of (General Hossein Hamedani) of Damascus (Syria). It is indeed my pleasure to contact you for assistance of a business venture which I intend to establish in your country.
 
I got your contact while I was doing a private research on the Internet for a reliable and capable foreign partner that will assist me and my family to transfer fund to your personal or private account for investment purpose Though I have not met with you before, but considering the recent political instabilities in my country, I believe one has to risk confiding in success sometimes in life.
 
There is this huge amount of money ($10 Million.) TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLAR which my late Father deposited in Foreign Country which I will disclose to you on my second mail after you have shown your interest. The Fund was deposited three months before my Father was assassinated by rebels during the war in Syria. It is not wise keeping the Fund in my Familys name any more for security reason(s).
 
Now I have decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe for security and political reasons. I want you to help me retrieve this money for onward transfer to any designated bank account of your choice for investment purposes on these areas below:
 
1) Transport Industry
 
2) Mechanized agriculture.
 
3} Estate investment
3) Any Lucrative business ventures
I will then furnish you with more details and I have mutually agreed to compensate you with 40% which is your share for assisting me, and 5% for any expenses that might be incurred by both parties in the course of the transaction. Then the remaining 55% will be for me and my family, which you will help us to invest in your country.
 
All I require is your honest & kind co-operation. I will give you further details as soon as you show interest in helping me.
 
I wait for your kind consideration to my proposal.
 
Best Regards,
Mr.Hamedani Mustafa.

Anti-fraud resources: