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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: "Financial Payment Committee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.helenclark009@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2012 19:16:37 +0100
Subject: VISA CARD PAYMENT

Our ref: SNT/FRN/09
Your ref: ATM/OL.T/0078
 
Following the instructions / mandate given to us by the United Nations in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.)and Federal Bureau of
 
Investigation (F.B.I.).
 
 
This is to officially inform you that an ATM CARD worth Four Million Eight Hundred United States Dollars ($4.8MILLION USD) has been accredited in your
favor.Your Personal Identification Number is 2911. Contact the Verification Officer;
 
Name:Dr. Helen Clark Email:(dr.helenclark008@live.co.uk)
With the following information;
 
FULL NAME:
COUNTRY:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
AGE:
PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
SEX/GENDER:
PASSPORT COPY:
 
 
Best Regards,
Mr. John Murray
Financial Payment Committee

Anti-fraud resources: