419 scam: "Mrs. Dorothy Martins"<postmaster@localhost.com> Dear Fraud Victim

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Dorothy Martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nrsemhfavr@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 22:49:34 -0800
Subject: Dear Fraud Victim

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION

14A AWOLOWO LANE, IKOYI

LAGOS, NIGERIA.

(BEWARE OF FRAUDSTERS / SCAMMERS)

Motto: No Body is Above the Law

Attn: Fraud Victim

Firstly we introduce this commission, Economic & Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Crimes Department; we fight cyber crime, Internet fraud, scam and money laundering in Africa, Europe and America and Asia. Our commission has been committed to stop internet fraud.

We have over 350 (Three Hundred and Fifty persons) of them arrested, detained and awaiting final judgments around Europe and America and Asia.

The Leaders of the African Crime fighters has come together to inform the world what is going on now and we have recovered over $422 Million Dollars (Four Hundred and Twenty two Million Dollars) from these scammers that we have apprehended. The reason we are contacting you through this letter is because your name was given to us by one of the fraudsters in our detention room after serious investigation and our aim is to refund all lost fund to its legitimate owner.

The Government has approved a total of (US$1.2Million) only as the compensation of the lost that you incurred as this was a sealing rate as some suffered more while others suffered less to and the idea is to restore you back to the position that you would have been if not that You are defrauded. In addition to the compensation amount also approved in your favor is (US$1.2Million) only will be refunded back to you in the next few days and we will make this possible via KTT WIRE TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER through a bank to bank transfer Or ATM card method.

You are advised to reconfirm the below listed information's to enable us facilitate the transfer of your fund into your nominated bank account.

Full Name:

Residential Address:

Sex:

Age:

Accupation:

Direct Telephone Number:

The Nigerian Government is actualizing this refund in other to retain the good name and image of this great country, the President Good Luck Ebele Jonathan has Instructed the payment of (US$1.2Million) only to each of the 63 victims globally. You are hereby advised to contact this Office and furnish us with the complete required information in order to send it to the appointed paying bank that will process and effect the release of your money to your nominated bank account.

Kindly report any suspected email of scam received by you and stop any further communication with anybody or office suspected to be scam artist.

Mrs. Dorothy Martins

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam