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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: paul smith <transferdepts_nationwidebank@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2006 13:14:06 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT FROM MR PAUL SMITH



Good day Mr Broekhof,

I GOT YOUR EMAIL YESTERDAY, I WILL LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT 25% OF YOUR TRANSFER FUNDS WAS PAID YESTERDAY BY MR PETR WALES. BELOW ARE THE DETAILS:

SENDERS NAME:MR PETER Wales

MTCN NUMBERS:3456789223

RECIEVERS NAME:PRINCESS DUKE

SO WE AWAIT THE REMAINIG 75% FROM YOUR END SO THAT THE TRANSFER CAN COMMENCE RAPIDLY.

I ASSURE YOU THIS WILL BE THE FINAL STAGE OF TRANSFER OF FUNDS AND ALSO I WILL LIKE YOU TO THANK MR PETER WALES HE HAS BEEN OF GREAT

ASSISTANCE TO YOU.
GET BACK TO ME TODAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH THE REMAINING 75% YOU ARE TO PAY DUE TO THE FACT THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

BEST REGARDS
MR PAUL SMITH
TRANSFER OFFICER

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