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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: "Byron Clark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <byronclarkk@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2017 07:59:00 -0700
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam,

FROM: BYRON CLARK
PRIVATE BAG X59, PRETORIA , 0001
MINERALIA CENTRE, 234 VISAGIE STREET,
PRETORIA - SOUTH AFRICA.


Dear Sir/Madam,

The purpose of this letter is to formally seek your assistance in transfer of Twenty Six Million United States Dollars (US$26M) for successive investment in your country. As an executive board member of the Project Committee of the Department of Mineral Resources in South Africa I can confirm that this fund is legitimate from tender awarded to overseas firms. You will be required to Advice on lucrative areas of investment in your country and also manage the fund in a profitable business in your region with good Annual Return on Investment (AROI).

If you decide to render your service in this regard you would be adequately rewarded for your responsibility. The Strategy is to use my influence as an account manager and provide you with the relevant information to enable you put in application for disbursement of the fund in your favour.

I trust that you are capable to handle this project and I certainly look forward to your participation by sending your full information after consideration via my email: byronclarkk@gmail.com.

Yours sincerely,

Byron Clark

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