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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Greenleaf Financial Services Inc." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <henrykoonto@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 07:06:24 +0100
Subject: Re:Non-Repayable Grants

Hello,
 
We have been commissioned by United Nation (UN) to reconcile their accounts with those that were given non-repayable grants to establish businesses in their localities so as to reduce unemployment.
 
We discovered that you haven't claimed your grant which was suppose to be disbursed to you from one of their (UN) affiliate consultants. Let us know if you are still interested in claiming the $400,000.
 
This amount is non repayable by you. It is to be used to generate employment for people around you.
 
Reply us so that we re-process your documents and pay you immediately.
 
Waiting for your reply.
 
John Connors
CEO
Greenleaf Financial Services Inc.

Anti-fraud resources: