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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: "Dr Chuckwu Fred" <dr_chuckwu@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dr_chuckwu@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 01:44:33 +0000
Subject: YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS

FROM THE DESK OF:
DR.CHUCKWU FRED.
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS.
ATTENTION: THE BEARER,
 
                    YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS
 
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZZETED
TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT ) -DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU
BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.
 
MEANWHILE,A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER,CLAIMING TO
BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.HERE ARE HER
INFORMATIONS:
 
       NAME JANET WHITE
       BANK NAME: CITI BANK
       BANK ADDRESS:ARIZONA, USA.
       ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
 
PLEASE,DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS
FROM YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME.
 
THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR,EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE
COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITTANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND
ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,
INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE AND TRANSFER ALL
FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR.
 
HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID
MRS.WHITE,IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHEN THE NEXT SEVEN WORKING DAYS
FROM TODAY.
 
BEST REGARDS,
 
DR.CHUCKWU FRED.
DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE /FOREIGN OPERATIONS.
CC: ALL FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS
CC: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD]
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF NIGERIA.

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