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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: "Matthew Crowther" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <matthew.crowther@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:10:23 -1200
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

My name is Dr. Matthew Crowther, a legal practitioner with Kalueos Chambers in Cotonou, Benin Republic. I saw your contact profile and decided that you could cooperate with me in this proposition.I have a client who was deceased in November 2010, In Abidjan, The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire . I am contacting you because you have the same surname with my deceased client,whos name is Mr Ephraim and i felt that you could help in distribution of the funds that were left in my deceased client's account.

This fund is close to being declared UN-serviceable by the finance house as there are no indicated next of kin or beneficiary of the fund in the account, having remained dormant for long. The total amount of cash in the account of my deceased client is USD 2.1$ ( Two million, one hundred thousand US dollars Only ). The finance house had issued me a notification to contact the next of kin to the said fund, to make beneficiary claim with a month sub charge of 6% to be deducted as an Escrow safe keeping fee of the account, so as to avoid indefinite closure of the account.

My proposition to you is to seek your prior consent, to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client, since you have the same last name with him. This means that the proceeds of his estate would be paid to you as his next of kin or the legitimate beneficiary. When the proceeds in his account are paid to you, we would share the proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon percentage of 60% to me and 40% for your kind self.All the legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next of-kin would be provided by me. The most important thing i need is your honest cooperation in this proposition. This transaction is hitch-free, and would be done under a legitimate arrangement that would protect you from any breach of law.

Please contact me at once on receipt of this mail. You can as well, reach me

directly on phone,
Sincerely,
Dr. Matthew Crowther.

Anti-fraud resources: