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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: "Mrs. JANET NAPOLITANO HOMELAND SECURITY" <usdpianezza@alice.it>
Reply-To: napolitanojanet02@barid.com
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:35:13 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,

MG Timothy J. Lowenberg,Adjutant General and Director State Military
Department
Washington Military Dept., Bldg1 Camp Murry ,Wash 98430-5000 USA

this is Mrs Janet Naplitano Secretary of homeland security department Have you
received Your fund?

I have finally cash Your abadon cheque representative here in Benin Rep worth
of $10.5M US Dollar, so kindly reconfirm your full address, Full name, Phone
number,and nearest Airport.

SINCERELY YOURS,

JANET NAPOLITANO
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Anti-fraud resources: