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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: "Ben Miller" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benmiller2@qatar.io>
Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 17:34:24 -0700
Subject: Compensation Officer!!!Compensation Officer!!!

Dear Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. You may not understand why this mail came to you. But if you do not remember me, you might have received an email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar business proposal which we never concluded.

I am using this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar business has been concluded with another person who financed it to a logical conclusion. I thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other best known to you. But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of the Bank to my new partner's account in London that was capable of assisting me in this great venture.

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed during the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $950,000.00. My dear friend I will like you to contact the compensation officer Mr John Haywood for the release of the fund

At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects which myself my new partner are having at hand. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. Also comply with Mr. John Haywood (Secretary) so that he will send the wire transfer into your account to you without any delay.

CONTACT: John Haywood (Secretary)
EMAILc benmiller1@qatar.io

Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number. Thanks and God bless you and your family. I am very busy now I may not reply to any email for some time.

Best Regards
Ben Miller

Anti-fraud resources: