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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: "Larry Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lawilliams1110@live.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 14:28:56 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend.

Dear Friend,

I am a staff with DEVCOM BANK; My name is Mr. Larry Williams. I was the Personal officer to Late Mr. Adams Allen, who was a renowned petroleum marketer with the Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PEGASSAN). Following the sad event that occurred on 27th January 2004 . My client Mr. Adams Allen and his immediate family who where victims of this sad event (Air-crash) died along with his family as there was no survivor.

Since then I have made several inquiries to his embassy to locate any of his extended Relatives, and this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, the Board of Directors are on the Verge of confiscating Late Mr. Allen's account with DEVCOM BANK where he left behind huge deposits valued at about ($28.8 Million USDollars). DEVCOM BANK has issued me a notice to provide a next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($28.8 Million US Dollars) can be paid to you. You shall be rewarded with 30% of the total Fund. To commence this transaction, I require you to immediately indicate your interest and enclose your private contact telephone & fax numbers, full names & address to enable the processing of this transaction in your favor and to effect the necessary approvals.

All I require is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law. Please I await your positive response to enable us discuss further.

Best regards,
Mr. Larry Williams

Anti-fraud resources: