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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "KOFI JOHNSON" <kofjohnson1@myway.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: kofjohnsons@myway.com
Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 18:53:56 +0100
Subject: YOUR UTMOST ATTENTION REQUIRED

Dear Sir,

I wish to solicit your strictest confidence in this
transaction and I pray that my contacting you will be given genuine
approval considering the fact that we don't know each other before. I
wish to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am Kofi Johnson,
I am writing to inform you of my desire to invest in any profitable business venture.

I am writing in respect of my inheritance contain therein in two boxes,which amounts
to the sum of US$15.5Million Dollars that my late father deposited with a security
and finance company here in Ghana for safe keeping before his demise . My father did not
disclose the content of the boxes to the security company. To avoid the officials from
raising eye brows.

Presently my mother and I with the help of an attorney here have notified the security
company of the claims. Therefore I want you to lecture me on how best we can invest this
money in your country,for your assistance myself and my mother have agreed to offer you
a considerable 20% of the total amount of the money.

We have all the vital documents covering the deposit and the ownership which I can send
to you upon getting a positive response from you indicating your willingness to assist us.
All that I require from you is your absolute honesty and sincerity as we want you to help
us receive this fund in your country pending when we are able to secure our visas to join you .

Note, I have never disclosed this transaction to anybody apart from you. So please,so please
treat with utmost confidentiality.

I shall look forward to hearing from you asap.

Kofi Johnson







Anti-fraud resources: