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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: "Philip Neto Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <philipnatowilliams@terra.com.ve>
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:57:22 +0530
Subject: Act as the administrator funds USD35.8M=

I Hope This Mail Meets You In Good Health And Spirit, I Am, Philip Neto Williams, A Sierra Leonia. Presently, I Live As A Refugee In republic of Ghana, With My Younger Sister,Sandra. I Am a Victim Of War And The Son
Of Late Chief Hanson Williams the Assassinated Former Assistant Director Of Sierra Leone Gold And Diamond Mining Corporation.

My Father Was Killed With Other Government Officials during Official Hours When The Rebel Troops Stormed And Raided The Mining Corporation Office At The Heat Of The Crisis In My Country. A Few Weeks Later, The Rebels Also Invaded Our Residential Building In Which My Mother And Two Of Our Security
Men Were Killed In The Compound While I Was Out For A Special Research Program And My Younger Sister Was In School.

I Had A Singular Shock And Trauma, Which Compelled Us To Flee From The Country To republic of Ghana By The Help Of An Army Colonel, Who Is
A Close Friend Of My Late Father.
I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to seek your assistance to act as the administrator funds USD35.8M, [Thirty five Million Eight Hundred Thousand] deposited in custody of
a Bank here Ghana by late father. I am the beneficiary but an administrator is required as the condition of release of the fund.

I Am Making This Request To You With Tears In My Eyes And I Feel That God Almighty Will Touch You With His Spirit To Listen To My Cry For Help And
Answer Me Without Delay. For your assistance, I beg to concede 20 % of this money to you for your efforts assistance.

In your reply send your telephone number.

I wait for Urgent Reply.

Best regard
Philip Neto Williams,

Anti-fraud resources: