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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: james wiliams <jameswilliams_00981@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jameswilliams_619@yahoo.it>
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:36:43 +0100
Subject:



DEAR FRIEND , I WANT YOU TO ASSIST ME AND MY PARTNER TO RECEIVE APACKAGE WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON HOW TO MOVE OUT OF OURCOUNTRY DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY, AND WE PROMISE TO GIVEYOU 30% OF THE PACKAGE. WE NEED ONLY: (1) YOUR FULL NAME (2) YOUR ADDRESS (3) MOBILETELEPHONE NUMBERS (4) YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORTNUMBER OR PHOTOGRAPH FOR US TO MAKE THE DEPOSIT INYOUR NAME. THE FLIGHT WILL BE LIVING WITH THE PACKAGE THISWEEKEND THAT IS WHY WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR US TOMAKE SURE THE PACKAGE LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTENT OF THE PACKAGE IS $15 MILLION U.S DOLLARSOUR COMPANY SELL BLOC, CRUDE OIL WANT TO SEND THISMONEY TO OUR CUSTOMERS IN EUROPE THROUGH ASECURITYCOMPANY AND IT WAS DECLARED PERSONAL EFFECT. WE WANT TO DIVERT THE MONEY TO YOU SO THAT WE WILL ALLSHARE IT, SO WE WANT YOU TO SEND US THE NEEDEDINFORMATION FOR US TO DEPOSIT THE MONEY IN YOUR NAMETO THE SECURITY COMPANY THAT WILL BE LEAVING WITH THEPACKAGE. PLEASE WE ARE SORRY IF WE HAVE OFFENDED YOU FOR THEASSISTANCE,BUT WE BELIEVE THE BUSINESS WILL CHANGE OURLIFE.I AWAIT YOUR REPLY WITH THE INFORMATION SO THATWE WILL DEPOSIT IT WITH YOUR NAME AS THE RIGHTFULBENEFICIARY AND AFTER THAT WE GIVE YOU THE GOODSNUMBER, CODE,PLEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT ME THROUGH THISEMAIL:jameswilliams_618@yahoo.itHOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANKS AND GOD BLESS US, DR JAMES WILLIAM
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Anti-fraud resources: