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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: "Western Union Customer" <info@union.com>
Reply-To: westernunio.onlinecustomerunit@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 11:17:16 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Dear Western Union Customer

Dear Western Union Customer,

Congratulation,You have been awarded with the sum of $50,000 USD by our
office, as one of our customers who use Western Union in their daily
business transaction.

This award has been selected through the internet, where your e-mail
address was indicated and notified. Please
provide Mr. Gary Epps with the following details listed below so that your
fund will be remited to you
through Western Union.

1. Name:______
2. Address________
3. Country:_______
4. Phone Number____
5. Occupation:_____
6. Sex:_________
7. Age________
8.Alternative E-mail Address

Mr. Gary Epps
Tel: +234 806 658 3450

As soon as these details are received and verified,your fund will be
transferred to you. Thank you, for
using western union.

Anti-fraud resources: