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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: "Mrs.Susan Rice." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrssusan_rice001@posta.ro>
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2015 22:14:01 -0000
Subject: FOREIGN CONTRACT/WINNING PAYMENT BUREAU

THE UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION
LONDON UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED NATION   PAYMENT APPROVAL OFFICE
Special Duties/Logistics Department
FOREIGN CONTRACT/WINNING PAYMENT BUREAU
 
U.S.A GOVERNMENT, WORLD BANK, UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION
OFFICIAL APPROVAL PAYMENT VALUED $8.3M
 
Attn:Sir/Ma,
 
I wish to find out if your fund has been credited to your account as reported in our database?
Confirm the status to me by e-mail:
 
If I did not receive any response from you within the next 48hrs, we shall assume your $8.3Million has been successfully received by you.
Thanks
 
Mrs.Susan Rice.
United Nation Grant Alleviation Allocatioon
Programme (UNGAAP) Agent
       

Anti-fraud resources: