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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: "WORLD BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <worldorgg@w.cn>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:13:12 -0500
Subject: Greeting From World Bank

The World Bank
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433 USA
 
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
We are sending you this message directly from World Bank Organization, based on the present meeting with the president of United States of America (President Baraka Obama), This is to notify you that your Inheritance long over due funds has been approved for Release by President Baraka Obama, he has issued a letter of authorization for the release and transferred of your Inheritance long over due fund valued US$3.5Million to be transferred into your bank account.
 
Note: the Letter of authorization has been signed by the President Baraka Obama yesterday for the release of your long over due fund, to enable us proceed with the processing of your Inheritance  long over due to be release and transferred into your bank account, you are to reconfirm your personal details such as listed below:
 
Your Full name
Your Contact address
Your Telephone number
Your Fax number
Your Age and Sex
Your Present Occupation
 
Above is the details needed from you to enable us proceed for the release and transferred of your long over due fund. You will be advice by our offshore paying bank to present your banking details upon the receipt of your responses.
 
Your's in Service,
 
Paul Smith
Washington, D.C
 

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