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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: "Thomas Collins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tcollins1945@aim.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 23:50:06 -0000
Subject: Urgent

Hello,
I am a retired banker in the United Kingdom, I have sat on a 9 year forgotten financial inheritance, Three million Pounds. In few weeks time, this fund will be transferred to the state as required by law since there’s no claim made. But not if we both collaborate and share the proceeds 60/40. Your part would be to receive the funds as the beneficiary and I will prepare the required documents and have it released to you in just days. Please reply this mail stating full name, age, country of residence and phone details if interested. So I can start the claims process as we build a mutual trust.
Many thanks in advance as I look forward to our partnership and trust. My apologies for contacting you through his medium as i got your email from my search on the internet.
Regards,
Thomas Collins

Anti-fraud resources: