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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: "EBENEZER MAZUKO" <ebenezermazuko@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 07 Jul 2005 02:31:32 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY

EBENEZER MAZUKO AND CO. CHAMBERS
MAZUKO PLAZA,20 KOFO ABAYOMI WAY
VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS, NIGERIA

RE:ATTENTION

Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted
by our law
firm,MAZUKO
EBENEZER AND CO. {Law Chamber} in Lagos,Nigeria.

My name is EBENEZER MAZUKO ESQ. A personal attorney to
our late client Mr. James Harrison who use to work for
an oil firm in Nigeria. Mr James Harrison
a
well known Philanthropist, before he died, he made a
Will stating that
$4.7M
(four million and seven hundred thousand U.S. dollars
only) should be
donatedto any Philanthropist of our choice overseas.

We have made a random draw that your name and e-mail
address was picked
as
the beneficiary to this Will.

I am particularly interested in securing this money
from the
Bank,because
they have issued a notice instructing us to produce
the beneficiary of
this
Will within two weeks or else the money will be
credited to the
Government
treasury as per law here.

It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late
client.You are
required to contact me immediately to start the
process of sending this
money to any of your designated official account.

I urge you to contact me immediately for further
details bearing in
mind
that the Bank has given us a date limit.please act
fast.

EBENEZER MAZUKO {ESQ)

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources: