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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: "Senate" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cecilianewton888@live.com>
Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 10:20:10 +0100
Subject: Important/Lucky Beneficiary

Attention:

Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law firm, Reality Law Chambers here in London England.
My name is Mrs Cecilia Newton (esq). A personal attorney to our late client Mr. Thomas Wildon who used to work with Shell British Petroluem here

in London. Mr. Thomas Wildon, a well known Philanthropist, before he died, made a Will in our law firm stating that (Nine million British Pounds
only) should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice if he dies. We have made a random draw and your e-mail address was picked as
the beneficiary to this Will. I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to
produce the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks which happens to be you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as
regards to law here.It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client.

You are required to contact me immediately to start the process of transfering this money to any of your designated official account. I urge you to
contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit. I shall give you my additional details as soon
as you indicate your intrest to claim this fund. Please contact me urgently via my email.

Congratulation,
Barrister, Cecilia Newton [Esq].

Anti-fraud resources: