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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: "Miss Ophel Grant" <johnwilliamss27@att.net>
Reply-To: <ophelgrant@yahoo.de>
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:47:11 -0000
Subject: Dearest One, God bless you

Dearest One,

Compliments of the season,

I am Miss Ophel Grant, My mother Mrs.Olivia Grant just passed away in the month of June 2010. Before my mother's death she had some Money($9.5m) and 50kg of Gold deposit kept in one of the commercial bank here in Accra-Ghana. I want you to do me a favor to receive these funds and Gold to a safe account in your country or any safer place as the beneficiary.

I have plans to continue my Education and do investment in your country.

Pls contact me urgently for further vital details via email:

May God bless you

Miss Ophel Grant

Anti-fraud resources: