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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. John Williams" <johnwilliams2008@myway.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: johnwilliams_2008@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 16:48:12 -0700
Subject: Business Deal

From the desk of Mr. John Williams
johnwilliams_2008@yahoo.com
Tel: +234-802-7598043
Attn: President/CEO,
I want to bring to your knowledge of a very lucrative business opportunity that I have, well I work with Nat west Bank in Nigeria as an agent that accompanies contractors funds to be paid to them and one of my fellow NBL official by name Mr. Mike White have this deal together and we won't mind you if you promise to keep optimum confidentiality, the boxes contain US$250,000,000, this money was lodged in a courier company in Washington State. The name of the courier company is cargo shipping and lifting services.
Call Mr. David Best and tell him that you are calling on behalf of Mr. John Williams that handed the consignment to him whose track No is 5239733245, also ask him how much it will cost to clear out this consignment and get it delivered to your home address, kindly bear in mind that they are not aware of what the contain of the boxes are, get it very clear that it was registered as family valuable goods. This consignment has being there for the past 4 months because I was looking for a trust worthy person to get the boxes out.
This money was meant for the contractors that executed their contracts, bear in mind that we are ready to release 50% of the total money to you for your help each of the boxes has US$125,000,000.
You can please reach me on this number now +234-802-7598043 or I will appreciate if you can send an email with this email address johnwilliams_2008@yahoo.com
Regards,
Mr. John Williams.



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