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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: "Stuart Gulliver" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.hsbc_bank1@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 12:14:41 +0100
Subject: REGARDING YOUR FUND DEPOSIT WITH OUR BANK...

Dear Value Customer ,
 
I am writing to inform you about a consignment fund deposited in our bank on Friday 23/5/2014 by the Central Bank Governor Nigeria. Note your name and email address was shown on the tag as the original owner of the consignment fund deposited with our bank.
 
Please confirm if you know about this deposit to enable us make arrangement on how to mover the content to you either by diplomatic cash delivery or by wire transfer.
 
Kindly let us know if you are aware of this deposit or not.
 
I will wait to get an urgent response from you.
 
Regards.
 
Stuart Gulliver,
HSBC Group Chief Executive
info.hsbc_bank1@qq.com

Anti-fraud resources: