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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: "Barr. Chris Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr_chriswilliams@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 15:40:12 -0800
Subject: Dear Respectful.

Message for you on 14-01-2014.
Law Chamber Principal Attorney
Chris Williams & Associates
44, Kofo Abayomi Avenue,
Victoria Island,
Lagos-Nigeria.



Dear Respectful.

Please kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you. I believe you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that I sourced your profile from a human resource profile database on your country. Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events.

I am Barrister Chris Williams (ESQ), I have a vital information about an unclaimed fund under my custody. Get back to me with your complete data if interested, as i shall provide to you all necessary claim documents of this fund.

Awaiting your immediate response.

Best Regards,
Barr. Chris Williams.
(Principal Partner)

Anti-fraud resources: