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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: "ALLAN SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mundy_9@rogers.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:01:47 -0700
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,

Dear Beneficiary,

I am Allan Smith QC of Allan Chambers and my legal services were retained by late Henry Sue, herein referred to as my client. I therefore write to notify you that my client made you a beneficiary to the bequest sum of £1,700,000.00 (One Million Seven Hundred Thousand British Pounds Only) in the codicil to his will and last testament.

Henry Sue died on 8th day February 2012 after a brief illness at the age of 85. Until his death he was consultant to several oil and gas industries. He had a sojourn in the United States and so many other countries before he came to Cairn Energy Plc, an oil and gas exploration and Production Company based in the United Kingdom.

He was a knight in the Church and belonged to several non-governmental and scientific organizations. He was also great philanthropist and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International. This bequest is to support your activities, humanitarian services and help to the less
Privileged. In accordance with our inheritance laws you are required to apply for claims through this law firm to the Finance Company, where this fund was deposited.

We are perfecting arrangements to complete the transfer of this inheritance to you and You are required to forward the following details of yours ;Full Names, Address, Occupation, Age, Phone and Fax Numbers for verification and re-confirmation. Please acknowledge the
Receipt of this letter through my primary email without delay.

Yours in service,
Atty. Allan Smith Esq.
Allan Chambers, East London.

Anti-fraud resources: