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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: "Giavin Sholmes" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <j.arvin111@yahoo.es>
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 16:01:54 +0100
Subject: THE PAYMENT IS READY NOW !!!

I am sending this letter to summarize and confirm the policies we discussed in our staff meeting last Wednesday. The policies are the following:
 
I am pleased to advise that we have finally completed the administrative processes for the release of your late relative estate compensation funds collection with the bank for the sum of < USD $ 950,000.00 > which represent the total value amount for her pick up, towards the unfinished business transaction which she was handling with the bank before her death .
 
Please note that she had legally instructed earlier according to her last testament will that those payment goes to you personally for investment purposes including her estate building property. Hence, your compliance towards this E-mail is highly entertained, to enable the deposit bank remit your inheritance payment funds to you legitimately, thank you.
 

Anti-fraud resources: