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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: "Mr Johnson Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnsonwilliams11@googlemail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 22:12:16 -0700
Subject: UPDATE ON YOUR PENDING APPROVED FUNDS

FROM: FUND RECOVERY COMMISSION
PLOT 161, RAUFU TAYLOR CLOSE
OFF ADEOLA ODEKU STREET
VICTORIA ISLAND.
LAGOS-NIGERIA
 
 
Attention:
 
 
I am writing to confirm the fact if you are (DEAD) or (ALIVE) and failure to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Mr. Liu Kong Nam  said was right that you are dead. Mr. Liu Kong Nam of Kemuning Ray Street NO.8, Tomang. Jakarta, Indonesia agreed to pay the pending charges of US$3,770 and claim your funds of US$15.8 million?
 
 
If you are not dead, please make arrangement and clear the charges immediately so as to have this transaction completed to avoid future claims to your funds.
 
 
Get back to me for clarifications. Please be sure to reconfirm your information such as your full name, address, and direct telephone number.
 
 
Mr Johnson Williams
Payment Officer Fund Recovery Commission
Direct Number: +2348103675581
 

Anti-fraud resources: