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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: WESTERN UNION <ubahwilliams16@gmail.com>
Reply-To: b229987897141@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 10:23:23 +0200
Subject: YOUR TRANSFER WESTERN UNION

Attention: ,

I am here to let you know that a meeting was hold in our western union
headquarter this morning with the president YAYI BONI and the federal
ministry of finance concerning your $2.8million united state dollars
that is with us. An order was giving to us this morning by the
president YAYI BONI to send your $2.8million united state dollars to
you starting from today, and $5,000 dollars has been sent to you this
morning.

All the necessary required payment by the western union has been paid
this morning by the president YAYI BONI, the only money you will pay
is $69 dollars transfer charge of your $5,000 dollars. Once you send
the $69 dollars today I we give you the MTCN to pick up your payment;
you will be receiving $5000 dollars daily until your $2.8million is
been send to you okay.

Here is the information to send the $69 dollars via western union today okay.

Receiver’s Name.... CHRIS UMAH
Receiver Country.... Benin Republic
City.... Cotonou
Text...... Honest
Answer..... Trust
Total Amount.... $69 dollars
Sender Name …..
Sender Country …..

I look forward to your urgent and positive response.

Yours in service
MR JOHN AIS
Finance Minister
Federal Republic of Benin

Anti-fraud resources: