419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "million us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: salimota yusuf <salimotayusuf00@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <salimota_yusuf02@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 21:12:01 +0000
Subject: Dear, I am confidence in whom i am talking to even though i have
not seen you but I believe with my faith that you are a reliable person that
i can call a man of my life. I hope age has nothing to do with relationship
now, what i am looking for is a ma

Dear, I am confidence in whom i am talking to even though i have not seen you but I believe with my faith that you are a reliable person that i can call a man of my life. I hope age has nothing to do with relationship now, what i am looking for is a man that we shall be there for each other and enjoy the rest of our lives together I am a widow,so if possible that baby comes between us, it is our best of luck, but what i want at present is relationship and support on the following matter. My husband is very wealthy business man during his life time and i am his secound and last wife before he died, he keep the sum amount of $9,000,000.00 (Nine million US dollars) in a bank and saved this with one of the leading bank in EUROPE i want you to be there for me to help me faithfully and receive this fund for further use on a profitable real estate business that is always my dream business But i intend to do it in a foreign country so that his Family will not cheat me. Dear this is my private matter and your considerable advice or helps us required to me urgently. I am ready to take the effect immediately if you are ready to be there for me faithfully. When i heard from you,i will share more vital information with you about the matter along my picture as well. Yours in heart love Salimota Yusuf

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam