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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: "From Miss,Caroline Owen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mscarolineowen101@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:09:47 +0100
Subject: From Miss,Caroline Owen iii

Attention Unpaid Beneficiary
 
My Name is Miss.Caroline Owen, 28 years old,a citizen of Ghana.I am a computer analyst currently working with Central Bank of Nigeria.
 
I just started working with Central Bank of Nigeria. (C.B.N.) My Dear,I came across your payment file which was Marked X and your Fund Release Hard Disk Painted Red,I took my time to study your payment file and found out that you have really attempted to receive the funds without success till now.
 
The most annoying thing is that the directors and top officials of this nation could not tell you the truth that on no account will they ever release the fund to you; instead they will let you spend money unnecessarily.
 
I swear with my life, I can release this funds to you if you can certify me of my security and how I can run away from this country to meet with you.
 
This is like a Mafia Setting here,if I do this for you, I do not intend to work here all the days of my life and I cannot run back to Ghana as this Bank have my home address in Ghana, and if I don't run away after I making the transfer to your bank account,I may be in trouble or my life will be in danger.
 
The only thing I will need to release this fund is a Special Hard Disk, we call it HD120 GIG.
 
The only thing I will need to release this fund is a special HARD DISK we call it HD120 GIG YOU WILL BUY ME THE TWO OF THE DISK FOR THE TRANSFER,and i will recopy your information,destroy the previous one,and punch the computer to reflect in your bank within 24 banking hours.
 
I will clean up the tracer and destroy your file, after which I will run away from here to meet with you in your country if you are interested.
 
If you are interested to buy the HARD DISK for me there or here for the transfer,do get in touch with me immediately and send to me the below information's:
 
Your Full Names:
Your Address:
Your Phone Number:
Your Country:
Your Age:
 
 
Regards,
 
Miss,Caroline Owen
Computer Analyst
Central Bank of Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources: