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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss Faith" <fconllis@terra.com.mx> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 05:33:39 -0700
Subject: HELLO DEAR RESPECT ONE,

HELLO DEAR RESPECT ONE,

THIS LETTER MIGHT COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISED SINCE

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS CORESPONDENCE.THIS

IS AS A RESULT OF THE HELPLESS SITUATION I FOUND

MYSELF INTO. MY NAME IS FAITH COLLINS, I AM 28 YEARS OLD

GIRL.

I LOST MY FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS,TWO

BROTHERS WITH OUR FAMILY HOUSE DURING THE BOMB

EXPLOSION AT THE ARMY CANTONMENT (BARRACKS). I AM

ALIVE WRITING YOU BECAUSE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE

OUTSIDE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSIONS. I AM

WRITING YOU NOW FROM OUR CHURCH WHERE THE

VICTIMS OF THE EXPLOSION ARE KEPT INCLUDING MYSELF.

NO HOUSE, NO GOOD HEALTH,


BEFORE MY FATHER'S SUDDEN DEATH, HE KEPT THE SUM OF

US$6,000,000.00 (SIX MILLION US DOLLARS) IN CASH WITH

A PRIVATE SECURITY AND FINANCECOMPANY.NOW THAT

HE IS LATE AND I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT BEHIND AND I

WAS TOLD THAT THE MONEY WILL BE GIVING TO ME NOW. I

AM WRITING YOU TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN

YOUR COUNTRY, INVEST IT IN A PROFITABLE BUSINESS

AND RELOCATE ME TO JOIN YOU IMMEDIATELY. AS A

RESULT OF INSECURITY OF LIFE


PLEASE INDICATE YOUR READYNESS TO ASSIST ME,SO THAT

ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FUNDS WILL BE

PASSED TO YOU IMMEDIATELY. SEND TO ME YOUR TEL/FAX

NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.

AND ALSO ASSURE ME YOU WILL NOT BETRAY ME AT THE

END THIS TRANSACTION KEEP THIS TO YOURSELF ONLY. IF

THIS TRANSACTION IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, I AM

PREPARED TO GIVE YOU 10% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR

KIND ASSISTANCE.

REGARDS





Anti-fraud resources: