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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: "Mr. James Sherry" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:33:45 -0700
Subject: Important Message

HOMELAND SECURITY
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS HEADQUATERS
NEW & nbsp; YORK USA.
FROM THE DESK OF MR. JAMES SHERRY,
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
 
Dear Citizen,
 
We have been given your file directly from the NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT as they claimed that it has been approved for a long time but the huge rate of corruption in their system, their bankers and government officials claim to get you your funds and go behind trying to keep it all for themselves, We ordered them to send a Notice to you to contact us at our Transfer Department , Oregon USA to enable us Re confirm some details and Document before we have the Nigerian Ministry of Finance issue out your payment in any form of your choice. Furthermore i advice you confirm to me if you sent Mr. Frank T.Kehoe of U.S.A California, with an application to receive your payment on your behalf. Please as a matter of urgency, you are required to verify the following information and inform us if you are aware or know anything
About this, This morning Mr. Frank  Kehoe called our office claiming that you have instructed him to come and receive the payment on your behalf as your representatives.
 
Below is the information submitted on the phone by Frank T. Kehoe I have ask him to call back tomorrow as he did not provide any power of an attorney from you which will proof that you thoroughly sent him, I did that to have the time to contact you and verify how genuine this man is to you.
 
1. Did you instruct one Mr. Frank T. Kehoe of 14 Rice Terrace Apt.306?
Branford, Connecticut 06405 whose information is below, to claim and
Receive the payment on your behalf?
 
2. Did you sign any 'Deed of Assignment' in his favor thereby making
Him the current beneficiary with the following account details:
 
Account Name: Mr. Frank T. Kehoe Group Ltd,
A/C #USD 586017794661,
Bank Name: Bank of America
Routing Code: 026009593
 
Finally, you are hereby advised to inform us with immediate effect, if you are the person that instructed Mr. Frank T. Kehoe to come for the claim of your fund worth of USD10, 500.000.00. We wait your response.
 
Yours sincerely,
Mr. James Sherry
jamesshery@gmail.com
Head of operations.
Homeland Security New York Dept

Anti-fraud resources: