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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: =?utf-8?q?Oceanic=20Bank=20Atm=20Card?= <atmcardoceanicbank@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: atmdebitcard319@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 07:04:14 +0530 (IST)
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD APPROVED....PLS CONFIRM YOUR REP. IDENTITY


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: atmcardoceanicbank@yahoo.in

ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY/CONTRACTOR,

- WE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PART PAYMENT OF US$5.8M HAS BEEN APPROVED AND READY TO BE UPLOADED TO A DEBIT ATM CARD OF WASHOVIA BANK ACCOUNT PROVIDED BY MISS GLENN SPIKER WHO CLAIMED TO BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.PLS CONFIRM HER IDENTITY


Anti-fraud resources: