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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: "Michael R. Phillips" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrwilson12@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 22:51:39 -0400
Subject: Re: Your Funds Intercepted

Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
Website: www.fbi.gov
 
Re: Your Funds Intercepted,
 
We write to inform you that our intelligent monitoring network intercepted some funds/inheritance, Atm Visa Cards,lottery winning and box of consignment contain funds valued $5.5m USD.
 
After we have conducted due investigation and verifications, the two men whose name has been withheld for security reasons confessed of been responsible for your inability of receiving your atm card/funds.
 
We have been able to ascertain that these imposters deliberately hindered you from not been able to receive your funds by conniving with the agents in charge of your funds release by demanding excessive fees for their own selfish reasons.
 
We intercepted these FUNDS when they were trying to smuggle it to The United Kingdom and we have deposited your FUNDS with our security company.
 
You are therefore requested to contact Barrister Aaron Wilson via email: [barrwilson12@yahoo.com.hk ] to help you process the release of your payment to you. We trust him to help you to process the release as soon as you open communication with him.
 
We hope to redeem the image of this country from all the scams perpetrated on innocent people.
 
Please do not hesitate to email US if there are any further complications for guidelines.
 
Michael R. Phillips
Head of Assets Forfeiture and Tax Investigation Unit
EFCC Headquarters in collaboration with
Fbi Headquarters In Washington, D.C.

Anti-fraud resources: