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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: "Mr Pope Innocent" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <popeinno@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 10:43:10 +0100
Subject: Call Mr Innocent Pope, If You Are Still Alive

Hello Dear,
 
This is to inform you of your long overdue Payment outstanding with our Banking records.
This is to inform you that your name came first from our Central Computer among the list of unpaid
Inheritance claims individuals and have to update your information through this email contact for
immediate confirmation. Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a
part-payment of US$2,500,000 million (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars)
and it has been approved already for payment months ago.
 
However, we received an email from one Mr. Lonato Paul, who told us That you are dead and he is
your next of kin and that you died in a car Accident four months back. To our findings we discover
that this Mr. Lonato Paul is a liar and imposer that is why we contact you before any release of funds
can be paid to him. He has also submitted his Account information to the Accounting office
department of our Bank for Immediate transfer of the fund to him as your inheritor.
 
Regarding our investigation from the Bank & the Nigerian Police Force (N.P.F) in conjunction with
the Economic Financial Crime Commission (E.F.C.C) we are now verifying by contacting your email
address as we have in our Bank records before we can Make the transfer into his account and for us
to conclude with confirmation if you are dead or not.
 
Make sure you reply back to us.
 
Mr Innocent Pope
International Monetary Fund Agency
Phone: +234-8024954272

Anti-fraud resources: