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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms Taylor Elizabeth" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elizabeth_taylorelizabeth-taylor@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2015 19:07:04 -0200
Subject: GREETINGS DEAR CUSTOMER GOOD NEWS,

Dear Customer,
After several investigations and research at Western Union and Money Gram Office, we found your name in Western Union database among those that have been defrauded and this proves that you have truly been swindled by those scams persons by sending money to them through Western Union/Money Gram in the hope of getting one fund or the other that is not real. do not respond to their e-mails,letters and phone calls any longer as they are scams and you should be very careful. We are working together with Western Union to track every fraudsters down,
 
I have contacted you because We have sent you the first transfer of $6500 from your winning inheritance funds total amount of $2.5Million USD. Therefore you need to contact Western Union agent Mr.Benson Guy, to give you the transfer payment information and Western Union MTCN immediately you call or email him.
 
Western Union Agent : Benson Guy
Contact Email:  mr.benson_guy@outlook.com
Telephone:  +234-7060786471
 
Please try to contact him immediately for him to furnish you with the WU MTCN information to you and remember to indicate the registration Code Number: EB-2537 to him, when contacting or calling him, He will be sending you $6,500.00. daily as per our board meeting discussion with him until the complete $2.5 Million USD is sent to you.
 
Do get in touch with me once you have gotten the transfer completely thank you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ms Taylor Elizabeth
Asia/Africa Affairs Director,
International Monitoring Fund(IMF)

Anti-fraud resources: