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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: "(POWCF) 2009" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <silver.moss@terra.es>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:28:01 -0700
Subject: PRINCESS OF WALES CHARITY FOUNDATION (POWCF).

ATTN :  GRANT BENEFICIARY
 
    This is to bring to your notice that your email has been randomly selected and approved
as a charity grant beneficiary of  PRINCESS OF WALES CHARITY FOUNDATION *POWCF*.
You are awarded a grant sum of  2,555,000.00 (Two Million Five Hundred And Fifty Five
Thousand Great Britain Pounds) Grant Reference. Code Number: 7890-789. For further
instructions on how to claim your grant,
FORWARD a copy of this notification to our International Grants Officer's email address below,
OR give him a call via phone number below:
 
*INTERNATIONAL GRANTS OFFICER, GRANT AWARD DEPARTMENT .*
* *
*Tel: +44 702 - 402 - 6662  .*
* *
*Email: powcf.grant@i12.com   .*
*MR.RICHARD PETERS .*
 

Anti-fraud resources: