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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: FINANCE RECOVERY TEAM <efccfinancerecovery@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:53:57 +0100 (BST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS


Dear VICTIMNAME
This letter may come to as surprise, but perhaps
it is nothing wrong but it has come as a saving grace.
For your information, this is a department extablished
by the Fedral Govt of Nigeria for prosecution economic
and financial crimes. the accronim stands for Economic and financial crimes commission.(EFCC).
As a matter of fact it is during our duty that your email address came in contact with us. Therefore, you have to co-operate with us to assist you to recover what ever money you have advanced, and prosecute the culprits.
You are required to forward to this dept all particulars, telephone , documents, amount of money/monies paid or yet to be paid to this dept immediately. As soon as you respond we will continue from there.
Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.
Moses Idris
for Nuhu Ribadu.


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