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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: Li Wan Attorneys <henia.geras@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: wanattorney@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:08:52 +0800
Subject: Hello

Dear,
I am Li Jian Wan, Attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, that sh=
ares the same last name as yours lost his life alongside his wife and=
only child in (Phuket, Thailand-bound) plane crash on Sunday 16th Se=
ptember, 2007.
Prior to the death of my Client, he secured a contract of Twenty Eigh=
t million USD from the Kingdom of Bahrain and the contract was succes=
sfully executed but the balance of Fifteen Million Seven Hundred Thou=
sand USD was subsequently paid into my client=92s account within the =
time of his sudden death and this Fifteen Million Seven Hundred Thous=
and USD is lying unclaimed.
I have contacted you to assist in distributing this money left behind=
by my client which is lying unclaimed and lodged. Thank you and get =
back to me as soon as possible.
Regards
Li Jian Wan

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