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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: "Ian Black" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:23:13 +0100
Subject: {Bank-Message}

For your immediate attention.
This is to inform you that your funds have been programmed for transfer to your bank account details below.
Bank name: Credit Agricole, Bank Branch : Ajaccio, France, Swift BIC: AGRIFRPP820, Beneficiary: Laurence Bavay
Account number: FR7612006000517300255089488.
We will appreciate if you can confirm this to be true as we will not be held liable for wrong funds transfer.
Yours faithfully, Ian Black

Anti-fraud resources: