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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: "WILLIAM YOUNG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <willaimyoung001@yahoo.es>
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 15:22:47 +0200
Subject: LET US WORK TOGTHER FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT

Dear Partner, I am Mr. William Young, an investment banker working for an international bank here in London United Kingdom. I am soliciting for your partnership in re-profiling of some funds abandoned in our bank by a late customer. I have been in charge of the financial portfolio since inception therefore are in a better position to divert the said amount for our mutual benefit since no one has come forward to lay claim to the abandoned deposit. Please open the attached message for further details and back to me on my direct email willaimyoung001@yahoo.es if you are interested in working with me on this project. Best regards William Young

Anti-fraud resources: