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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: "test" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:51:59 -0800
Subject: Attn:Beneficiary

UNITED NATIONS
(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME)
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027

From: Capt. Arnold Lung

Attention: Beneficiary,

IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT.

We are of the United Nations Debt Reconciliation Unit newly set up by the United Nations in conjunction with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It was Resolved and Agreed that part payment of Eight million, Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds (£8,500,000.00) of your Unclaimed funds would be released on a special method of payment which tag Name Reads SWIFT ATM BANK CREDIT CARD.SEND YOUR NAME,ADDRESS,NEXT OF KIN.PHONE AND FAX NUMBER TO CLAIM YOUR FUND. Send your details to RICHARD FRENCHMAN head of review, World Debt Reconciliation: EMAIL:paymentoffice@unitednations-paymentcenter.org

Thanks

Capt. Arnold Lung
Payment Co-ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources: