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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.Joan Williams" <joanw0@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: joanw0@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 10 May 2015 16:03:02 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,
I am sorry for the unconventional way i broke into your private life
I am Contacting you for Late Mr Andrew Lee who died with his
supposed Next of Kin/Heiress Apparent (wife and Daughter). I have
searched for any other members of his relative through all the whole
embassies in the world without successful result; so I am Contacting you
to an unclaimed estate (USD$21,500,000.00)
Only remained in the bank to be transferred in your account.
For details please contact me with your full name and current
location.reply via (joanw0@yahoo.com)
Thanks
Joan Williams


United Nation

Anti-fraud resources: