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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: BBC FINANCE <finance.department@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:35:27 +0100 (WAT)
Subject: PAYMENT.




Attn: Recipient,

We want to inform you that your funds of £18,000,000.00 have been payed to you by the BBC FINANCE DEPARTMENT through Money gram with your Money gram Reference: 39687045 to collect your funds in any Money gram Office in your Country within the next 24hrs time.

We hope you will send this to your information below to us to pick up your funds in any money gram in your Country:

Full Name:
Country Address:
Phone No:
Country:

You will contact us through Our Email Address:(finance.department@yahoo.cn) so that we can give your information to collect your funds in any Money gram Office in your Country as soon as possible.

We are waiting for your urgent reply.

YOUR 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: