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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: "Mrs Victoria Well" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <victoriawe1@comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2012 07:52:08 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE!!

Dearest Sir/Madam

I am Mrs. Victoria Wells, the Head of Accounts/Audit Department at Hsbc Bank Plc, North West London. I have a very sensitive and confidential brief for you from my bank. I am requesting for your partnership in re-profiling funds, I will give the details but in summary, the fund is from Hsbc Bank Plc, North West London.

This is a legitimate transaction subject to your satisfaction and consent, if you are interested and willing to assist me until the successful completion of the transaction, do get back to me immediately to enable me start processing the relevant documents without delay. Any delay in your reply will give me the room to source for another individual for this same purpose.

More details will be made known to you upon your response.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Victoria Wells.

Anti-fraud resources: