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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED NATIONS ADC" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rev.johnbalfour@rocketmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:17:44 -0800
Subject: Re; YOUR ATM VISA CARD RELEASE ORDER CODESSSSUN hhhh

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL * Wilfred Lemke*
[Code SSSSUN
 
 
 
It has come to our Notice that Your Unclaimed Funds which was Held by the Past Corrupt Government Officials has been approved and will be handed over to you. The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation has successfully passed a mandate to the UNITED NATIONS RESIDENTIAL AND REGIONAL PAYMENT OFFICER to exercise all foreign debts owed to you. Now your payment will be send to you by ATM card that will be coming alongside a custom pin which you will use to withdraw up to $10,000 per day from any ATM machine that has the Master Card Logo on it. Also with the ATM card you will be able to transfer your funds to your bank account, because the ATM card will be registered with Inter switch. The ATM MASTER EXPRESS CARD is credited with the sum of (Five Million Five Hundred thousand United State Dollars).
 
 
Note: Everything that will impede the process of Delivery of the Atm Visa Card has been Handed over To Our Approved Staff, who is Now Undergoing Regional Payment In Africa and will be Introducing you with the Process of Receiving The Atm Card from any of Your Preferred DELIVERY OFFICE. To effect the release of The Card, you are advised to contact Our Approved and Appointed Staff Now in UNITED NATIONS RESIDENTIAL AND REGIONAL PAYMENT by Responding to This Message , On contacting him do provide him with the following informations required from you for the shipping of your ATM card parcel:
 
 
Your full Name:.....................
Your Address:......................
Country:............................
Sex:.................................
Occupation:.........................
Home/Cell Phone:...................
A valid copy of your identity is also needed.
 
 
Thanks,
 
 
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL * Wilfred Lemke*
[Code SSSSUN

Anti-fraud resources: