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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 tracy williams <tacywilliams@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 15:01:56 +0100
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME OUT

*Greetings,*



*I am Mrs. Tracy Williams an aging widow suffering from long time*

*illness.I have some funds I inherited from my late husband, the sum of*

*5.9 Million us Dollars and I needed a very honest and sincere*

*Individual or cooperate organization that will use the fund for work*

*of humanity, I found your email address from the Human ressources data*

*base and decided to contact you. Please if you would be able to use*

*the funds for the work of humanity as i have stated hear To fulfilled*

*my late husband wishes please , kindly reply me back through my*

*private email adress for more explanations; tacywilliams@gmail.com
<tacywilliams@gmail.com>*



*Regards,*

*Mrs. Tracy williams*

Anti-fraud resources: