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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: "World Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rbuk03@konin.lm.pl>
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2013 17:53:11 -0400
Subject: YOUR CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT IS READY

World Bank
21-24 Milbank
London, England.

Sir,

Re: The approval of your Sixteen Million U.S Dollars.

Due to the World financial crises which we are still experiencing all over the World, we have been holding series of meeting with the U.S Government, British Government and the United Nations to see how we can resolve this problem which have affected the World economy.

In our last meeting heard recently, we have concluded to compensate all the affected people we can reach out to and you are among the beneficiaries to receive the sum of Sixteen Million U.S Dollars each for the quick recovery of the World economy.

Your certified bank draft is ready to be issue on your name, you are advise to send us your information so that this bank draft can be post to you immediately. Please we beg of you do not ignore this message because it is a real payment and not a scam, we shall send you a scan copy of this draft first for you to see before the original will be send to your address so that you will know that it is real payment. We are waiting to receive the below information to enable us post this draft to you immediately.

1. Your name
2. Your address
3. Your direct phone number
4. Your occupation
5. Your age.

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs. Mary Adams
Director
World Bank

Anti-fraud resources: