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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: "Mr.Efong John" <unoffice999@att.net>
Reply-To: <mr.efongjohn@ymail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 17:32:26 -0800
Subject: I await your prompt response.

Hi,
 
Can you handle US$35M for an contract investment fund of Late Mr.
Kirsten Windus (FIXED) deposited with First Bank Plc and can you be
trusted to execute this project with me.Please kindly get back to me
with your direct Cell-phone Number, Home Telephone Number and Contact
Address if you can really be trusted, to enable us discuss further.
I await your prompt response.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Efong John
 

Anti-fraud resources: