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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: steven paul <stevenpaulstevenpaul@gmail.com>
Reply-To: raymond_wood333@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:56:58 +0800
Subject: Re


My Dear,

I am Mr. Raymond Wood, the General auditor and head of computing
department of our bank. I have urgent and very confidential business
proposition for you. I understand that through Internet is not the best
way to link up with you because of the confidentiality which the
transaction demands.

I discovered a dormant account in my office, as the general auditor with
here in our bank. The account has been dormant and has not been operated
for the past seven (7) years. From my investigations and confirmations,
the owner of this account, a foreigner by name Mr. Michael B. Thompson, he
died in July, 2004 and since then nobody has done anything as regards to
claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of
the existence of neither the account nor the funds. It will be in my
interest to transfer this fund worth 10,000,000 million dollars in an
account offshore.Please you need to furnish us with the need information’s
so that we can commence on the transfer without any further delay.

1. Your Full Name:
2. Your Full Address:
3. Your Account Name:
4. Your Bank Name:
5. Your Bank Address:
6. Your Account Number:
7. Your Direct/Cell Telephone Number:
8. Your Current Occupation:
9. A Copy of Your Picture or ID:
10. Your Current Email Address:

This transaction is totally free of risk and as the fund is legitimate and
does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other
illegal act. If you can be a collaborator to this please indicate interest
immediately for us to proceed. Your contact phone numbers and full name
will be necessary for this effect. On receipt of your response I will
furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual
benefit transaction.

Regards and respect,

General Auditor
Mr. Raymond Wood

Anti-fraud resources: