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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: "Mr. Jacques W. Bouchard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lx686182@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2010 19:32:06 +0100
Subject: Mutually beneficial proposal.

Hello friend,


After very thorough consideration, I have decided to reach you through this means to propose to you a mutually beneficial proposals that would require very minimal input from you but have quite an appreciative benefit to you. And of course as is obvious it is your prerogative to either support this proposals or reject it, But I do believe that it is wise to first have a full picture of the transaction before you make such a decision.

I can state very unequivocally here and now that this business transaction that I am proposing is safe, riskfree, legitimate and very profitable. I can also tell you that the amount involved is GB£12,200,000.00 (Twelve Million Two Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds), that is about US$20,513,490.01 (Twenty Million Five Hundred and Thirteen Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety United States Dollars) I am presently in London working as an investment consultant. If you can please contact me by email if you need to know more about the transaction so that I can provide you with a more detailed picture of the transaction.

It is however imperative that you be aware from now that the transaction requires absolute confidentiality and a pledge to this resolve would be expected from you before I commence this transaction with you.

Please do respond to this email that I can give you more picture of my proposal.

Warmest regards,

Mr. Jacques W. Bouchard

Anti-fraud resources: