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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: Robert Alonko <robertalonko@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 06:40:15 +0000
Subject: Hello My Dear friend,

BUSINESS PROPOSAL///

Hello Dear friend,

I wrote you earlier but you did not respond to my mail. Like I wrote you
earlier, I am Attorney Robert Alonko, a lawyer by profession, based in
Lome - Togo. In my first mail I mentioned to you about a late client of
mine (a native of your country) who died with his wife and only child in an
accident On the 21st of April, 2005, without any disclosed relative. I need
your urgent assistance claiming the sum of U.S. $ 12,500,000.00 million
belonging to my late client who is also a native of your country, which it
is deposited in a bank Togo. He was my client and a major supplier
contractor for big oil companies here in Togo.

Owing to the similarity of your surname to my late client's, I wish to
present you as the next of kin to the account because my late client died
in a car crash with his immediate family without leaving a will or someone
that will be presented to the bank as next of kin. Therefore, I am calling
your attention because that the bank asked me to bring his closest kin.
Indicate your interest by writing back directly to my e-mail: (
robertalonko@gmail.com) for more details. If it is simpler for you to meet
me on skype, tell me.

Regards.

Barrister Robert Alonko (ESQ.)
robertalonko@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: