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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: "Vincent Cheng" <cheng@mail.com>
Reply-To: vcheng976@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 04:03:13 -1200
Subject:

I am Mr. Vincent Cheng Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited. I have a sensitive, confidential brief from Hong Kong
and I am asking for your partnership in re- profiling funds.

What I require from you is your honest co-operation and all confirmable
documents to back up this fund shall be made available to you prior to your
acceptance and as soon as I receive your return mail I will let you know what
is required of you.

Best Regards,
Vincent Cheng.

Anti-fraud resources: