The 419 scam is so called because it refers to the "Nigerian Criminal Code" that prohibits cheating and dealing with fraud in Nigeria and other countries in Africa that promises a large amount of money such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting from a bank account etc.

Most people receive emails from people claiming to be bankers and how they have money to give to you. They claim to know you however they really don't know you at all.

Sufferers of email scams never receive this money. Many are even tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain largely unknown. They hide their real identity and location by using made up names and postal addresses.

Many people scam bait these criminal scamsters. But remember they are criminals and if they had their way they will take all your money and even murder you. Under no circumstances reveal your real name, phone number or address.

Fraud email example:

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Emma Konjo, general secretary City Security Company Ltd Nigeria. This information am going to give you now is secret and confidential between both of us.

There is a consignment containing $30,000,000m(thirty million United States dollars) deposited in our company by one foreign contractor Mr.kufaas Gunnar, but the consignment was declared to our company as family treasure. I discovered the true content in the security volt when am scrutinizing all the deposits in our company. Mr. Mr.kufaas Gunnar deposited this consignment for safe keeping before his untimely death; he died among other passengers in Bellview airline that crashed some time last year. Until today, nobody has come to claim this consignment in our custody. I am honorably seeking your assistance to act as the relation/beneficiary of this consignment to enable our company release this consignment to you.For the smooth claim of this consignment, I will secretly provide you with the documents that will prove your claim to our company as the beneficiary because I have the deposit file of Mr. Kufaas Gunnar on my desk including his deposit certificate and agreement made during the time of deposit. For this transaction, I have decided to offer you 60% of the fund for the major role you are going to play on the successful completion of this transaction and 40% for me. Please if this condition suites you, do not hesitate to reply me immediately so that I will tell you the next step to follow. Kindly include your private telephone and fax number if possible for easy communication. I wish to hear from you soon.

Best Regards,

Mr. Emma Konjo

+2348067489619

Dear Friend

It is my pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful attempt on our business transaction Well I just want to use this medium to thank you very much for your earlier assistance to help me in receiving the funds without any positive outcome. I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with the help of a new partner from Paraguay Mr Fernando Alvaro Gomez, Everything was perfectly done because we strike a deal with one of the Lady Accountant who works with the Federal Ministry of Finance (F.M.F) and she rendered a tremendous help to us My new partner initiated this idea and everything worked out successfully. In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the funds I have decided to compensate you with the sum of $950,000,00. Nine Hundred and fifty Thousand United States Dollars in a Cashier's cheque. This is from my own share I did this simply to show appreciation to you for your kind support and assistance even though we could not succeed due to some unforseen circumstances and reason. Presently I am in Paraguay for investment project with my own share under the advice of my partner Meanwhile I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring this funds despite the fact that we could not succeed I will be sending you e-mail from time to time to know if you have received your share or not. In the light of the above you are therefore to contact my lawyer David Johnson and do send him your contact address where you want the cheque to be sent to you, His e-mail address is:davidjohnson_brr@yahoo.com Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy together after all the suffering at that time. In the moment I am very busy here in Asuncion the capital city of Paraguay because of the investment projects which the new partner and I are having at hand So feel free to get in touch with him to send the cheque to you without any delay.

With My Best Regards Frank Richard

Dearest, Assalam Alekum

I do recognised the surprise this letter will bring to you, most especially as it comes from a stranger.I am Saara Yuusuf. We from Guinea Bissau. I am married to Dr Da'uud Yuusuf who worked with Libya embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2004. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only two weeks. Before his death we were both faithful Muslim. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the holly Quaran is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($3.8Million U.S. Dollars) with the security company here in Abidjan Presently, the fund is still with the security company. Recently, my Doctor told me that I have serious sickness which is cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a Islamic institution or individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a Islamic that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of mighty Allah and to endeavour that the house of mighty Allah is maintained. The holly Quaran made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that gives. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Muslim and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the mighty Allah. As stated in the holly Quaran (Surah xxxvi Yasin) Thou wariest only him who followeth the reminder and fearieth the beneficent in secret to him bear tiding of forgives and a rich reward. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With mighty Allah all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the security company here in Abidjan. I want you and the Islamic institution to always pray for me because the mighty Allah is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Muslim. Whoever that Wants to serve the mighty Allah must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Contact me on the above e_mail address for more information, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another Islamic or individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply.Thanks.

Regards. Sister Saara Yuusuf.

Dear sir,

Please excuse us for intruding into our private life and hope that this letter may not be a disturbance to you as we are contacting you with good faith. It is our desire to establish and invest in your country, under your good care and sincere help. we decided to contact you soliciting your confidence in this relationship praying that our decision to contact you will be given a genuine approval.

We are Sims and Cecile Papara, we are the only surviving children of late Chief Paulson O. Papara, from the Republic of South Africa. I am 20 years old and my younger sister was 19 years old. Our late father was a well established diamond and gold broker in Johannesburg - South Africa. After few days he came back from a business meeting from Abidjan - Cote d'Ivoire, he was mobbed and attacked by some unknown gunmen on his way to his warehouse on his routine inspections accompanied by our only little sister Lili, who died instantly from gun shots and our father died few days in a private hospital.

While on his sick bed at the hospital, he told us about the money he deposited in one of the international banks here in Abidjan - Cote d'Ivoire which he wanted to use to open a cocoa processing factory in Cote d'Ivoire. The amount is $7.5 Million American dollars and named me as his next of kin in his deposit papers. He also told us during our conversations that in case he did not survive the attack that we should look for a capable and trustworthy person in any country of my choice who will take good care of us and will guide us into good investments to become useful in life.

Now because of many wicked and frustrating ways of our uncles back home in South Africa since the death of our father. I and my only sister were here now in Abidjan - Cote d'Ivoire and have located the bank where our father deposited this money, which the bank confirmed; we have successfully identified ourselves to the bank. But the bank told us that they must be in contact with our guardian and investment partner as contained in our father's deposit agreement with them because of our ages before they could release our inheritance to make sure that the money be used wisely.

Please now we want you to become our guardian and investment partner so that the bank can release our inheritance to us for a very good and lucrative business in your country and also help us relocate to your country for good investments and to comfortably continue with our education.

We have made up our minds to compensate you with the 15% of the total money for your kind consideration and sincere assistance.

We are waiting to hear from you soon.

Thanks and God bless,

Sims & Cecile Papara