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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: "Perez Ami" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <col.idris.musa@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2017 21:39:07 -0700
Subject: Important Message

FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF AUDITOR
INTERNATIONAL AUDITING DEPARTMENT
OFFSHORE CREDIT COMMISSION
SOUTH EAST ASIA.
EMAIL ADDRESS: col.idris.musa@gmail.com
RE: YOUR OUTSTANDING REMITTANCE AMOUNT DISCOVERED
I AM WRITING TO YOU IN A TOP CONFIDENTIAL LEVEL AS I MADE AN ASTONISHING DISCOVERY DURING THE COURSE OF MY AUDITING FOR THE JUST CONCLUDED FISCAL YEAR.
A WHOOPING SUM THAT RUNS INTO MILLIONS OF UNITED STATES DOLLARS WAS UNCOVERED BY ME WITH YOUR NAME AS THE MAIN BENEFICIARY. THIS FUND WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSFERRED TO THIS OFFICE BY YOUR PARTNERS AFTER WHICH THE OPTED FOR PAYMENT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.UNFORTUNATELY THE FUND WAS RETURNED HERE IN DUBAI AS THE SAFEST VENUE FOR DISBURSEMENT.EVER SINCE THEN NOBODY HAS COME FOR THE CLAIM.
ALTHOUGH,YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING SERIES OF SEPARATE FRUITLESS ARRANGEMENT TO HAVE THIS PAYMENT RECEIVED FROM ELSEWHERE BUT THE WHOLE TRUTH IS THAT YOUR FUND HAS BEEN LYING HERE WAITING FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT.
NOTE THAT IF YOU KEEP ON DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED IN FINALIZING YOUR PAYMENT HENCE YOUR FUND IS LYING HERE UNCLAIMED AND THIS THEY WILL NOT TELL AS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN EXTORTION.
CONSEQUENTLY, I WISH TO ASSIST YOU TO RELEASE THIS FUND ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PLAY ALONG WITH ME AND MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY AS MY OFFICE IS AT STAKE IF ANYONE SHOULD KNOW OF MY INVOLVEMENT TO ASSIST YOU.
FURTHERMORE, I SHALL BE REQUESTING FOR JUST 5% OF YOUR TOTAL PAYMENT VALUE WHICH SHALL BE GIVEN TO ME ONCE YOUR PAYMENT IS FINALIZED AND YOU RECEIVE IT IN YOUR PREFERRED BANK ACCOUNT, ONLY THEN I SHALL SEND MY BANK DETAILS FOR MY OWN SHARE ACCORDINGLY.
IT IS IMPORTANT YOU REALIZE THAT I AM IN THE POSITION TO MAKE USE OF MY AUTHORITY HERE TO GET THIS REMITTANCE FINALIZED WITHIN 48HRS, ONCE MY REQUEST HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND I HAVE YOUR WRITTEN ASSURANCE AS TO THIS REGARDS.
IF THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ENABLE URGENT CONCLUSION.
1)      CONFIRMATION OF YOUR ASSURANCE OF 5% TO ME THEREAFTER.
2)      YOUR PREFERRED BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE REMITTANCE.
3)       CONFIRMATION THAT THE FUND BELONGS TO YOU.
 
UPON THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE I SHALL IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE THE WIRE PROCEDURES OF THE FUND TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT WITHIN 48HRS.
AWAITING YOUR URGENT COOPERATION AS I AM INTERESTED IN AN URGENT CONCLUSION OF THIS ISSUE.
BEST REGARDS,
DR PEREZ AMI

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