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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.kevin vassell" <info@voxtrazing.ml>
Reply-To: kevinvassell@aol.com
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2020 06:22:13 +0300
Subject: ATTENTION!!!


Dear Sir/Madam
My name is kevin vassell, A Chartered Management Accountant and an Externa=
l Auditor =

for financial institutes in Republic of South Africa.I currently work with =
a team of
external auditors who were retained before the outbreak of the covid-19 pa=
ndemic to
audit financial activities in the South Africa.
I may have to trouble your sense of personal achievement and reward for an=
opportunity =

properly taken advantage of.In the course of a routine audit of our books l=
ast quarter,
I discovered some investment accounts that have been dormant for over elev=
en years.
Most of the accounts belong to a single beneficiary. I wish to notify you =
again that =

you were listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of $4,500,000.00 =

(Four million five hundred thousand united states dollars)in the intent of =
the deceased depositor =

who died intestate and as such, no next-of-kin has come forward all these y=
ears to lay claim to the investment.
( Names now withheld for security reasons ) Since this is our second letter=
to you.
We contacted you because you bear the same last name with the deceased exp=
atriate investor/depositor =

and therefore we can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance sinc=
e there is no written will =

from our late investor. Our services aim to provide you with a complete ser=
vice as we are prepared =

to provide you with all the documents required by the holding Bank to enabl=
e them release this =

inheritance funds to you . we can secure the funds in this bank account for=
ourselves instead of =

allowing it transmit as =201Cunclaimed funds=201D into the Treasury of the =
Government of the countries.
All the papers work required will be processed in your acceptance of this =
deal =

as we are prepared to offer you 40%,50% for us,while 10% should be given to=
any Orphanage Home.
we request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance via ema=
il.(kevinvassell@aol.com)
Your prompt response is highly imperative.
Yours sincerely,
Mr.kevin vassell

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