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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: "Chan S Ahn" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chans1080@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:04:22 +0200
Subject: RE: ENDEAVOUR TO USE FOR LESS PRIVILEDGE :( VERY URGENT ) - ID: 001018

Barrister Chan S Ahn & Associates.
Wood Hilock Road, Sunny Side Pretoria
Republic South Africa .
 
 
Attention:
 
 
Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law firm,
 
Reality Law Chambers in Pretoria South Africa
 
My name is Chan S Ahn (Esq). A personal attorney to our late client
 
Mr.Fedrick Carson who worked for an oil firm in south Africa. Mr.Fedrick Carson a
 
well known Philanthropist,before he died, he made a Will in our law firm
 
stating that $25,000,000,00. (TWENTY-FIVE MILLION US$ DOLLAR ONLY ) should be donated to any
 
Philanthropist of our choice overseas.
 
 
We have made a random draw and your name and e-mail address was picked as
 
the beneficiary to this Will. I am particularly interested in securing this
 
money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to
 
produce the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks which happens to be
 
you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury account as regards
 
to law of their banking code of conduct.
 
 
It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client. You are
 
required to contact me immediately to start the process of transfering this
 
money to any of your designated official account. I urge you to contact me
 
immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a
 
date limit. i will be glad to have your direct telephone number so that i
 
can reach you for futher details.
 
 
Please contact me urgently via my email
 
 
Congratulation,
 
 
Barrister,Chan S Ahn [Esq].
 
Email:chans1080@hotmail.com
 

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