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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: "Jan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rollandjan@uku.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:54:25 +0100
Subject: DID YOU GET MY LAST EMAIL?

I am Rolland Jan (Esq) a solicitor at law. I am the Personal attorney to Mr.Mark Williams, a national of your country,who was a gold miner and crude oil exporter here.

On the 21st of April 2003, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Shagamu Express way,All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of his account valued at US15.5 million dollars can be paid to you.

This is the only way I can secure the money for the family of my late client, your assistance to invest the money in your Country will be highly appreciated while the search for his relatives continues. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this claim through. If at the end of our search,we are not able to trace any of his relatives,we shall both share the money on 50/50 basis.

Particularly, the bank where the deceased deposited the fund has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by email and i shall inform you further about this transaction.

Best regards,
Rolland Jan

Anti-fraud resources: