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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: "Michael Mayton Jr"<mmayton00@live.co.uk>
Reply-To: <mmaytonjr009@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:48:25 -0700
Subject: RESPOND IF INTERESTED

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr. Michael Mayton Jr., Regional Head of Account Dept (CHIPS The Clearing House Interbank Payment System London).
I am writing in respect of a Russian Citizen customer of my Clearing House Mr. Alexander Litvinenko who died by poison with radioactive thallium on the 23rd of Nov 2006.
The late Russian ex-spy Mr. Alexander Litvinenko left a huge amount of funds and nobody will ever come for this funds because as an ex-spy he never disclosed his transactions with anyone not even his relatives. I am the only person that is aware of this money since Mr. Alexander Litvinenko did not give to my Clearing House any next of kin to inherit his money.
Now, I want to use my position in the Clearing House to transfer this funds to your country for investment. If you can provide me with an account where I can transfer this funds. I will give you 30percent of this entire fund, 5percent will be set aside for disbursement of each party while the remaining 65percent shall be for me and my colleagues.
I am hoping to get a favorable response from you so that I can furnish you with further details on how we are to proceed in this lucrative business transaction. Do keep this transaction strictly confidential for security reasons.
Mr. Michael Mayton Jr

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