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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MINISTER OF FINANCE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <okwilson@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:20:26 +0200
Subject: CHANGE OF ACCOUNT PARTICULARS ON YOUR PAYMENT FILE


FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF).
DEBT RECONCILLIATION AND PAYMENT COMMITTEE
Website: http://www.fmf.gov.ng/FMF_DG_Budget.aspx

Attn: Beneficiary,

Re: CHANGE OF ACCOUNT PARTICULARS ON YOUR PAYMENT FILE

This is in pursuit of your supposed overdue/outstanding payment, I have the opportunity to explain to you the controversy surrounding your payment, following the change in your bank account.

Really, this fund is still existing in our government, annual report payment schedule on foreign debts as unclaimed and in your favour as the sole beneficiary but it is unfortunate that your Nigerian representative were acting in collaboration with some government official here in Nigeria to divert this money and have made derogatory remarks on your file, thereby unlawfully demanding excessive taxes and levies just to frustrate you, and I am sure that this is the reason why this fund has not been transferred into your account.

You are to stop further communication with your Nigerian representatives, this has become necessary in view of the fact that some Nigerian representatives have on several occasion taken huge sums of money from their foreign partners and this has resulted in many beneficiaries not getting their fund. It should be noted that, the reason why I am contacting you is to seek clarity if you have mandated one Mr. Edmond Peters from Britain to collect your fund into his Zurich account on your behalf.

Base on this we have concluded arrangement for the release of your payment. You are hereby advised to reconfirm to this office the following information stated below:

1. Your name and address
2. Occupation
3. Date of birth (Age)
4. Contact Telephone numbers
5. A Scanned ID CARD or Driver's linsence
6. Amount to be paid
7. Your receiving bank details

This will enable us process and up-date your file for prompt payment. This is very important to avoid misdirection of your fund into a wrong account, as we will not be held liable for any misappropriation of fund.



I await your urgent response to help us serve you better.

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Okogu Bright
Director General Budget Office, Finance.


Anti-fraud resources: