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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: "Paul Ralph" <paulralph@unionbank-nigworld.net>
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 2005 01:38:26 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONDS ( Mr. Paul Ralph )

Mr.Paul Ralph
Manager Internal Audit/-
Foreign Remittance Dept,
Union Bank Plc Here,
Victoria Island,Lagos.
E-mail:(paulr_2008@paulmail.org) Reply to this E-mail.
 
Attention: Sir/ Madam
 
I sourced your profile from a human resource profile database in the Internet. My name is Paul Ralph. An account officer to late Mr.Nouvelles Hebrides who is an oil marchant here in Nigeria, a well known Philanthropist, before he died, he made a Will stating that $13.2M(Thirteen million,two hundred thousand U.S. dollars only) should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice overseas.
 
I have made a random draw 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 me been the account officer 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 my late client since he is no more alife.
 
If you are interested, you are required to contact me immediately to start the process of sending this money to any of your designated official account or your off-shore 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.contact me through my private E-mail:(paulr_2008@paulmail.org)
 
I am await your urgent reply
 
Mr. Paul Ralph
Director Internal Audit/Foreign Remittance Dept.

Anti-fraud resources: