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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:59:32 +0000
Subject: Personal Notice

We happily announce to you again about our LOTTERY
price won by you a week ago.
You have been approved to claim a total sum of 750,000pounds.
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from the
World Wide Web through a computer draw system and extracted from over
100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.
Your e-mail address attached to e-ticket number:03- 15-19-24-28-34
drew a prize of 750,000 pounds per winner.
This lucky draw came first in the 2nd Category of the Sweepstake.
Contact Our Claim Agent Jeremy Edward(Sir)
via below Email
EMAIL:jeredwardscoord@yahoo.com.hk
TEL +447031925878
with the Following
NAME:
ADDRESS:
AMOUNT WON:
EMAIL:
PREFERED MODE OF COLLECTION: BY COURIER OR BY BANK TRANSFER
PHONE NUMBER
AGE:
SEX
OCCUPATION:
Congratulations in advance.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Carolyna Anderson

Anti-fraud resources: