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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: "United Nation" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nation1311@yahoo.de>
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 22:29:11 -0800
Subject: YOUR CARD IS OUT PLEASE COMPLY IMMEDIATELY.

United Nation Secretary
IN CONJUNCTION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
ZENITH BANK COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.
 
 
ATTN: Beneficiary,
 
Hope all is well with you and family?, you may not understand why this mail came to you. In regards to the recent meeting between the United Nations and the Present United States Government to restore the dignity and Economy of the Nations. Base on the Agreement with the World Bank Assistance to help and make the world a better place for all with the sole aim of abolishing poverty.
 
We have been having a meeting for the passed 7 months which ended 2 days ago. This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world, the UNITED NATIONS have agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$ 3,500.000.00 (Three Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.
 
Your name and email was in the list submitted by our Monitoring Team of Economic and Financial Crime Commission observers and this is why we are contacting you, this have been agreed upon and have been signed.
 
You are advised to contact Mr. Godwin Emefiele of ZENITH BANK NIGERIA PLC, as he is our representative in Nigeria and the CEO of the Zenith Bank Plc, contact him immediately for your ATM visa card worth the total sum of US$ 3,500.000.00 (Three Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) This funds are in ATM visa card for security purpose ok? So he will send it to you and you can withdraw money in any ATM machine of your choice your country. This meeting was first held on the 8th of April 2003. You can view this page for your perusal: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/ik344.doc.htm
 
Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number/your correct mailing address where you want him to send the ATM visa card to you. Contact Mr. Godwin Emefiele immediately for your ATM visa card with the following information.
 
1. Full name
2. Phone and Fax number
3. Address were you want them to send the ATM Card to
(P.O Box not acceptable)
4. Your age and current occupation
5. Attach copy of your identification
 
Person to Contact: Mr. Godwin Emefiele
Office Email: mr.godwinemefiele3@gmail.com
 
We sincerely apologize on behalf of good people of Nigeria for the plight you have gone through in the past years in receiving your inheritance money. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept our congratulations.
 
Goodluck and kind regards,
Making the world a better place
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon Secretary
(UNITED NATIONS).
http://www.un.org/sg/

Anti-fraud resources: