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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: "frank william" <frankwilliam060@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:33:35 -0700
Subject: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

ATTENTION:BENEFICIARY,

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU SEQUEL TO THE NOTIFICATION
RECEIVED FROM THE G8 LEADERS TO RELEASE YOUR FUND
INHERITANCE ACCREDITED TO YOU.MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO OUR
OFFICE YESTERDAY THAT SHE IS YOURPERSONAL ATTORNEY BY NAME
VASTIE DENIS FROM NEW YORK, UNITED STATE.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THIS OFFICE IF TRULY THAT MISS
VASTIE DENNIS IS YOUR PERSONAL ATTORNEY, AS WE DID GAVE HER
THE SCAN COPY OF YOUR DRAFT PAYMENT WAITING FOR VERIFICATION
FROM YOUR BANK.IF THIS SAID LADY IS YOUR ATTORNEY, WE SHALL
BE SENDING YOUR DRAFT TO HER BY COURIER, BUT IF SHE IS NOT
YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, LETS TERMINATE EVERY ARRANGEMENT IN
PLACE OF DELIVERING YOUR DRAFT TO HER ADDRESSIN NEW YORK.

I AWAIT YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
THANKS AND GOD BLESS.
MR. FRANK WILLIAM
MANAGING DIRECTOR &C EOCOMMONWEALTH BANK GROUP

Anti-fraud resources: