419 scam: <> Dear+

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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
This email message is a orphan scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27834661987 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: <>
Reply-To: johnkalaba2014@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2017 17:06:17 +0200
Subject: Dear+

Dear: Friend,
You may be surprise to receive this mail since you don't know me personall=
y, but with due respect, Trust and humility, I write to you this proposal. =
I am Mr. John Richard Kalaba son of Mr. Charles Kalaba of Darfur South Suda=
n, and my mother Mrs. Maria Kalaba. It is indeed my pleasure to contact you=
For assistance of a business venture which I intend to establish in your c=
ountry. I got your contact While I was doing a private research on the Inte=
rnet for a reliable foreign partner that will assist me And my family to t=
ransfer the funds to your personal or private account for investment purpos=
e, Though I have not met with you before, but considering the recent politi=
cal instabilities in my Country, I believe one has to risk confiding in su=
ccess sometimes in life.
There is this huge amount of funds (US$30 Million) Thirty Million Dollars) =
which my late father deposited here in a private security company here in S=
outh Africa awaiting claim before he was assassinated by unknown persons du=
ring this war in Darfur Sudan. Now I have decided to invest the funds in y=
our country or anywhere safe for security reasons. I have mutually agreed t=
o compensate you with 30% of the total amount if you agree to assist me.
All I require is your honest & kind co-operation. I will give you further d=
etails as soon as you show interest in helping me. I wait for your kind co=
nsideration to my proposal.
Best Regards,
Mr. John Richard Kalaba.
My phone number: +27834661987

Anti-fraud resources:

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