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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: Tim Brown <online175190@telkomsa.net>
Reply-To: Tim Brown <timbrown_office@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 17:23:09 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: OFFER

Hello,

I am Mr. Tim Brown a contractor with an oil firm in Africa, we have a transfer from Africa to a private security financial Agency in Europe and we are in dire need of a foreign partner with your statues who will assist us in signing out the fund for investment in your country, all legal aspect of this transaction has been taken care of by our attorney, all I needed is your consent to partner with us on this claim

If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response.

Please contact me at once via my email address to indicate your interest.

Regards,
Tim Brown

Anti-fraud resources: