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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Zenith Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zenithbnknigplc@ufo.tc>
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:33:21 +0100
Subject: INSTRUCTION FROM BARCLAYS BANK.

Attn;

We write to let you know that Barclays Bank instructed us to release the Sum of 1.5 Million USD to you, so we want you to know that we are going to pay with Certified Bank Draft.

So we want you to send us your direct phone number and your current home address,and also your full name because we want to process your Bank Draft immediately.

We are waiting from you.

YOUR SINCERELY,

Zenith Bank General Manager
Mr. David Obi
PHONE +234-80-6269-6993
zenithbnknigplc@ufo.tc

Anti-fraud resources: