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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: williams <elizawilliams1@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 06:42:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,
Kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you, I believe you are a highly placed person considering the fact that I got your
profile from a human resource database of your country. Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with what I am about telling you, I
request you treat it with seriousness.
I am Mrs. Elizabeth Williams from United States of America .I am 51 years old. My Late husband who was a contractor with Kuwait government on
commercial farming died in a plane Crash with my only son on their business trip to Philippines. When my late husband was alive, he deposited
$2,000.000.00 USD(two Million United State Dollars) in a Local Bank in Togo for Motherless Babies home Project and orphanage Home Foundation. We plan to re-locate to South Africa to commence the Project
before he died. May His Soul Rest in Peace, The above stated funds was deposited in Bank account with the bank and can be received by anybody I authorized them to wire the fund.
Presently, my doctor said that I will die in the next 3months due to cancer and my old age. I do not want the funds to be with the bank without
anybody receiving it if I die .The fund will be used to help the HIV patients, Motherless babies’ homes, Construction of Churches, help the
poor and the disabled in your country. Respond back to me so that I will present you to the bank as my late husband next of kin and authorize the
bank to wire the funds to your country.
May God bless you
Sister Elizabeth.

Anti-fraud resources: