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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: "Steven Okoye" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <okoye_steven@yahoo.es>
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 01:44:43 +1000
Subject: THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD,GET BACK TO US.

Attn Beneficiary :
 
I am directed to contact you based on the instruction from our affiliated Bank
After the meeting with the board of directors held this morning,We deliberated
on your fund which has been rerouted to {FEDERAL RESERVE BANK USA}
 
for more information Do fell free to email back for further clarification and
way forward.
 
Thanks for your cooperation.
Barrister Steven Okoye
 
[Registered Attorney With Federal Government on Payment
Release]
 
okoye_steven@yahoo.es

Anti-fraud resources: