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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ignazio Visco." <ignaziovisco@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mr. Ignazio Visco." <bancadiitaliax@live.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 01:25:39 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: RE


 From: Mr. Ignazio Visco (Governor)
Banca D' Italia
Rome - Italy,

Hello,

This letter is written to you in a good faith. I am Mr. Ignazio Visco, Governor with Banca D' Italia, Rome - Italy. Recently, I came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person (Christian Eich). He is foreigner, unfortunately He is now late as he was amongst those that was killed in the recent plane crash during his visit to London as you can confirm through this website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm.

This man was our client and has a (Fixed) Deposit WORTH the sum of €950,000.00 Euro right now, the fund is lying unclaimed in our custody and there is no next of kin mentioned in his file and there is no how we can reach any of his other relatives. All efforts made by us to establish contacts with any other of his relation have proved abortive and unsuccessful. His (Fixed) Deposit will expire in the next few weeks from the date of this letter.

I am contacting you. In view of the fact that the deceased customer is a foreigner, it is officially important for the involvement of a foreigner who will stand as a the owner of this unclaimed fund, I will use my exalted position in this Bank to arrange all necessary arrangement legally and without any risk to present you as the next of kin and the €950,000.00 Euro will be Safely transferred into your bank account in your country for us to share the money 50-50 (50% for you and 50% for me).

I will give you more information as soon as you indicate your willingness to assist me in this viable transaction. The whole Procedures will last only five working days to get the fund retrieved successfully without trace even in future. Please I need the following details to proceed:

1. YOUR FULL NAME AND CONTACT ADDRESS THAT WOULD BE USED TO ESTABLISH YOU AS THE LEGAL BENEFICIARY OF THE FUND.
2. PHONE, CELL AND FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.
3. YOUR AGE, OCCUPATION AND MARITAL STATUS.
4. YOUR FULL BANKING INFORMATION WHERE THE FUND CAN BE TRANSFER INTO.

Your earliest response to this matter is very important.

Mr. Ignazio Visco
Governor of Banca D' Italia
Rome - Italy,

Anti-fraud resources: