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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: james Williams <jw9406525@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2014 06:05:42 +0000
Subject: Hello

Hello friend,
How are you? I hope you are in good health, including your family, I
am a practicing attorney here in Togo my name is James William. I
communicate with you so we can make business cooperation which will be
good for you and me. There are total of USD $ 5,400.000.00 money and
want to work together as business partners to transfer the money to
any account you have because the money belong to one of my late client
which has no relation and was brought up as orphan in orphan home. I
was given opportunity to provide or fix alternative beneficiary to
inherit this fund because I was the man guarantor in this bank. You
will benefit 40% of the money to help transfer this money and I will
benefit 45% will 15% will be donated to motherless. When you reply
this letterI will send more detail to you.
Thanks
James Williams

Anti-fraud resources: