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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: Peter Akpotor <rev.wilson68@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 14:48:32 +0000
Subject: get back to me urgently from Wilson German

I am Wilson German 24 years of age from north Sudan, presently in Ghana has
a refuge, my late father was a gold merchant dealer before suddenly past
away last year, before his death he deposited gold dust in one security
company in London united kingdom worth ( $7.8 million U S dollars ) so i
want you to stand as my foreign beneficiary there in your country for the
claims, because i requested for the claim but the security company told me
i must be 27 years of age before they can release the gold dust for me,this
is where i need your help sir. +233-231783354

sincerely
Wilson German

Anti-fraud resources: