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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: "Dr.Mark Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <banisteraines@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 5 May 2015 12:56:14 -0700
Subject: Re Atm Card of $3.5 million

INTERNATIONAL DEBT SETTLEMENT UNIT
NO 65 RUE LAYOUT GARIK SABO
PM B 347 NIGERIA
 
 
Re Atm Card of $3.5 million
 
 
Your atm card of $3.5 million (united state dollars) is out. Because we have decided to release your payment this way so that you will not have difficulty again to process for your fund release with the government bank,IMF and UN in regards to securing documents for your fund release.
You will make use of the atm card on any atm machine in your location,and you can travel with your card to any country of your choice because the card can work in all the countries where atm machine is situated.So send the details below to pick up your card today.
 
 
1. Phone
2. Address where you want the atm card to be sent
3. Your full name
 
Regards
Dr.Mark Williams
Director
 

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