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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "michael kolade" <michael_kolade1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: michael_kolade@wapda.com
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 08:03:48 -0800
Subject: RE:PAYMENT NOTIFICATION.........

FROM THE DESK OF
THE DIRECTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT.
CITI BANK PLC
DR.MICHAEL KOLADE.

ATTN: HOURNORABLE CONTRACTOR,

YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT.CONTRACT #:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN/009.
Our records of outstanding contractors due for payment, with the
Federal
Government of Nigeria, Your name and company was discovered as next on
the
list of the outstanding contractors who have not received their
payments.

I wish to inform you that we have been directed by the APEX BANK OF
NIGERIA
(CBN) to pay all the concerned contractors, and your payment is being
processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this
letter.
Also note that from the record in my file your outstanding contract
payment
is $35.7 million dollars (Thirty five million seven hundred thousand
united
states dollars).

Please re-confirm to me if this is inline with what you have in your
record
and also re-confirm to me the followings;

1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company name, position and address.
4) Profession, age and marital status.

As soon as this informations are received, your payment will be made to
you
through teleghraphic wire transfer from citibank plc.

You can email me back as soon as you receive this letter
for a better understanding and more breifings .

CONGRATULATIONS.

Regards,
Dr. Michael Kolade
Director customer service dept.


Anti-fraud resources: