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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: "BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT " <info@bbc-finance.co.uk>
Reply-To: bbcfinancedep@yahoo.cn
Date: Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:39:15 +0200
Subject: PAYMENT

Attn: Recipient,
We want to inform you that your funds of £18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million Pounds sterling) have been release to you by the BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT UK and if you are ready to collect your funds, you will have to contact the BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT UK through this email address:(bbcfinancedep@yahoo.cn) to enable them send your required information you will use in collecting your funds in your Country within the next 24hrs.

NOTE:Do not disclose this information to any one so that someone do not collect your funds on your behalf because of scam in the World today.
We need your urgent reply to collect your funds.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Helen Cole
MANAGING DIRECTOR
BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT
UNITED KINGDOM
0845 838 1815 (UK Local Rate)
+44 7024084948(From Outside UK)

Anti-fraud resources: