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.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ECOBANK ATM CARD HOLDERS" (may be fake) Reply-To: <no-reply@ecobank.com> Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 02:22:37 -0500 Subject: MISES À JOUR DE CARTE D'ATMOSPHÈRE D'ECOBANK POUR JANV. - LE JUIN 2012.
Cher detenteur de carte Ecobank,
Ecobank est constamment a assurer la securite, par le depistage regulier des cartes ATM dans notre systeme.
Nous avons recemment examine votre carte de guichet automatique, et nous vous demandons de mettre e jour vos informations de carte de guichet automatique sur notre nouveau serveur securise.
Votre carte Ecobank est desormais limite, et vous etes maintenant necessaire de mettre e jour vos informations de carte ATM dans 48 heures, pour enlever la limitation de votre compte.
Si vous ne suivez pas l'etape de verification ATM compte, votre compte sera suspendu Ecobank.
Mettez à jour et veuillez vérifiez votre information de carte d'atmosphère en cliquant
le lien ci-dessous et le endeavour pour inclure votre goupille curent pour activer une goupille principale de remise:
