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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: "Mr. Steve Howard" <hsteve004@msn.com>
Reply-To: hsteveo4@yahoo.com.au
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 09:29:41 +0000
Subject: REQIURED

Dear friend,
I represent ATLANTIC Import and Export Company based in
Australia. My company exports cocoa and other
goods/services for world trade. We are searching for
representatives who can help us establish a medium
of getting to our customers in Europe and America as
well as making payments through you as our payment officer.
Most of our customer pay out in cheques and we do
not have an account in your country that will clear this
money. It is upon this note that we seek your
assistance to stand as our representative in your country.
Note that, as our representative, you will receive
10% of whatever amount you clear for the company and the
balance will be paid into an account we will avail to you.
Please, if you are interested in this business
transaction, forward to me through my personal
email address (hsteveo4@yahoo.com.au) the
information below:

(1)Your full names,
(2)Contact address and,
(3)Phone/fax numbers.

Thank you for your time.
Respectfully Submitted
Mr STEVE HOWARD,
Managing Director
Altantic Import/Export co.
Goods for Import/Export
Freight Fwdg. Svcs.

NB
Please be informed that you are not to pay any fee whatsoever at any time
during the course of these proposal.


Anti-fraud resources: