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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: "United Nations ©" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Message@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2012 17:32:38 +0100
Subject: United Nations Unclaimed Payment Notification.

UNITED NATIONS
Division for Social Policy and Development
Economic and Social Affairs Dept.
NEW YORK, USA
                  
Subject: Notification of Unclaimed Fund in Africa
           
Dear Beneficiary,
          
I have been directed to contact you and notify you that a payment of $15.5 Million USD the IMF and UN Security Council recovered from a Bank in Africa as an "Unclaimed Inheritance entitlement/Award Winning Compensation Payment Fund" Belonging to you has been released to be paid to you by UBA Bank California, USA, with release code NGA0142.
         
You are hereby advised to contact Ms. Anita Wells of UBA Bank California USA with your release code NGA011234 on E-mail: ubadata@e-mail.ua  or phone +1 (800) 3333 0000 to enable her pay you this $15.5 Million USD as soon as possible.
      
Yours Sincerely,
     
H.E. Mr. Miloš Koterec
President of the Economic & Social Council

Anti-fraud resources: