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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. R.A DUBE" <interlotprograms@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 03:23:18 +0200
Subject: ++CONGRATULATIONS++


OVERSEAS STAKES LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
OFFICE: 8-10 FREE TOWN AVE,
PLOT: 328 REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.
REF NUMBER; OSL/653/029/05
BATCH NUMBER; AT-040-SB06-05
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Dear Sir/ Madam,
We are pleased to inform you that as a result of our recent lottery draw held earlier today. Your email address attached to ticket number 27522465896-532 with serial number 652-662 drew lucky number 7-1-18-23-31-46 which consequently won 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,200,000.00 Equivalents (ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNTIED STATE DOLLAR ONLY).
Note:
ALL participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and web sites.
This promotional program takes place every year, and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates Of Microsoft Inc, Multi Choice and other corporate organizations. This is to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide.
For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning information's confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
We look forward to your active participant in our next year USD50 Million slot.
You are requested to contact our clearance officer below to assist you with your winning and subsequent payments. All winning must be claim not later than two weeks after the computer date of this notice.
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delay and complications remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of addresses do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Email address: frankdavies@sify.com
Contact person: MR.FRANK DAVIES.
Tel: 27-83-968-0894
Sincerely yours,
MRS. R.A DUBE
Lottery Director.

Anti-fraud resources: