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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: "Pastor Donald Maxwell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pmaxwell682@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2016 21:04:30 -0400
Subject: LETTER FOR YOU FROM PASTOR MAXWELL

Greetings Dear foreigner

It is the Almighty that directed me to you after series of prayers that you will assist me achieve this mutual
beneficial business transaction .

i am pastor Donald Maxwell and also works as the auditing manager with UNION BANK PLC AFRICA .

I am contacting you with respect to transfer the sum of Five Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar ($5.500,000.00) deposited by a major supplier of Agricultural Equipment's in West Africa named Mr.Nicolaz Michel who died along side with his family on 1st June 2009 crash of Air France flight 447.

Through my further curious investigation,I found out that he died along with his next of kin and the roll-over on the funds has also expired because our banking law stimulates that after 8 years where the next of kin did not appear for the claim of funds, the total fund will be transferred into bank treasury as unclaimed funds.

In order to avert this negative development, I will like to seek for your permission as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr.Nicolaz Michel so that the fruits of this old man's lab-our will not be used for financing government.

This money cannot be approved to a local bank account holder here , but can only be approved to a foreigner abroad ,since the late depositor was a foreigner like you .

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 50% for me and 50% for you.

I will like you to provide your name and country you reside ,so i can discuss further with you .

i need you to stand as next of kin ,so i can use my own share to help the poor and build a church in our community and retire as a banker .i have lived all my life in Africa and do not relatives of foreigner abroad.


My Attorney will prepare all the necessary documents and affidavit which will put you in place as the next of kin. The Attorney will draft and carry out the notarization of the WILL and also obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the claim.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, I expect that you will not take undue advantage of the trust I will bestow upon you

I wait for your response for more details regarding the transaction.

Best Regards
Pastor Donald Maxwell

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