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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: "IMF" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsbethel@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 10:03:15 +0700
Subject: From Bethel Orphanage

Dear Friend,

I received your contact through your city's business directory which prompted me to contact you directly through your email address. My name is Mrs. Bethel Nana.
I am 53 years old and have been diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment. I have only few months to live, according to my doctors.

I have decided to donate my estate to charity. I am taking this liberty anchored on a strong desire to ask for your assistance. Your cooperation and urgent attention would be
greatly appreciated. After the death of my husband, I was touched by God to donate my estate for the good work of God, rather than allow my husbands relatives to inherit it.
They have abandoned me in my sickness, and are waiting for me to die so they can collect their inheritance. My health has deteriorated so much, I cannot do this myself
anymore. I do not have any children of my own.

I once asked members of my late husband's family to close one of his accounts and distribute the money to charity organization in Haiti. I thought they followed my instructions, but I later found out that they kept the money for personal use. The bulk of my estate is a cash deposit of $7,200,000.00 deposited with a financial institution in South-East Asia.

I need your help to claim this deposit for charity work since my health will not permit me to do so. Will you help me?

Please reply as soon as you get this email. I will give you more details about myself, the deposit, and how to handle the process.

Regards,

Mrs. Bethel Nana
Bethel Orphanage Zambia
mrsbethelnana@rediffmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: