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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: UK National Lottery <notifier@lottery.co.uk>
Reply-To: uknlverificationdepartment@w.cn
Date: Fri, 04 Jan 1980 01:16:41 +0000
Subject: Contact Mr. Hudson ASAP via (uknlverificationdepartment@w.cn)

REFERENCE #: UKL/452093G9/21
EMAIL TICKET #: 106-7871-404-199
This e-mail is to congratulate you as your email address have won you a cash prize of 715,000.00 Great British Pound in our Online Lottery Sweepstakes Promotion held in London August 2010. To file your claims, contact;
Agent: Mr. Douglas Hudson
E-mail: uknlverificationdepartment@w.cn

Note: You are required to tender your Full Name(s) & Reference # (same as
above) Full Address, Country Of Residence, Occupation, Age, Sex, Telephone Number to the claims agent, via email for a valid response. Congratulations from all members and staffs of this program. Thank you for being a part of this online lottery promotion.

Anti-fraud resources: