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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: "Prince Ashily" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ashily15p1@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2012 06:04:53 -0500
Subject: Dearest One

Dearest One, It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will be a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive me this unusual manner to contact you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your mind in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that, so many individuals have taken possession of the Internet to facilitate their deeds but there is no way for me to know whether I will be properly understood, but it is my duty to write and reach out to you. I am Prince Ashily Quatama from Sierra Leone, I am writing you from Rep of France where I have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of my beloved parents by the rebels during the fighting in my country. Because of the war my late Father sold his shipping company and took me to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire, where he deposited 10,500,000.00 Million Euros with one of the foreign Insurance Company Cote d'Ivoire the Insurance Company is suppose to deliver the Consignment Funds to my late father partner Mr. Alfred Lofty in Paris. Upon getting here it was discover that the partner was involved in a ghastly car accident which cost him his life. I prayed over this issue before contacting you and due to the current political crisis in Ivory Coast I am seeking for your assistance to help me transfer this Money and also relocate to your country to further my study and I am willing to offer you 40% of the total sum for your help. Please, kindly respond to me on my private email address (ashily15p1@yahoo.com.au ) for more detail. Best Regards. Prince Ashily

Anti-fraud resources: