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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: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:07:41 +0100
Subject: Hello,


Hello,

I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of $1.5Million United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you
since that time. Then I went to the bank to confirm if the draft has expired
or getting near to expire and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director Bank of Africa
told me that before the draft will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the $1.5Million USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash
payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration as I will be out out of
the country for a 6 Months Course and I will not come back till end of Nov
2008.

The only money you will send to the Courier Company to deliver your
Consignment direct to your postal Address in your country is ($155.00 US)
One Hundred & Fifty Five United States Dollars only being Security Keeping
Fee of the Courier Company so far.Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay
any other money except $155.00 US Dollars. I would have paid that but they
said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of
demurrage.

Contact Person: Dr. Peterson Brwon Email Address:
(fedex_expresscompany_2000@yahoo.com.hk)
Tel/FAX: +229 9313 2372

Note this. The FEDEX COURIER SERVICE company don't know the contents of the
Box. I registered it as a Gift item and Personal belongs. They did not know
the contents was money. this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don?t
let them know that box contents money ok. I am waiting for your urgent
response.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr Donald Collins

Anti-fraud resources: