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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. BAN KI-MOON" <officemail09522@virgilio.it>
Reply-To: officemail6777777@virgilio.it
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:34:57 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: RE...UPDATE ME

united nations office.
we want to inform you that your outstanding payment of
$12.m which has been with our central paying office from united nations has
been sign out for payment after series of meeting with our boardofdirectors,
also this payment will come to you via wire transfer, we want to conclude all
payment before this month runs out march 2010,your mailingaddress, phone
number and your full details are required immediately.
Thanks and
congratulations, Contact me urgently: mrbankimoon099@gmail.com
Mr. Ban ki-moon
United nations funds
new york u.s.a.

Anti-fraud resources: