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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: Finance Ministry <financeministry2011@msn.com>
Reply-To: <financeministryfile@barid.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2015 23:45:54 +0000
Subject: Attn:Honorable Beneficiary,YOUR INHERITANCE PAYMENT

Attn:Honorable Beneficiary,
This is to bring to your notice that following the protest of the International Community, The World Bank, IMF and the instruction by the Presidency Chief of State and Chief of the Government Dr. Boni Yayi, that all outstanding foreign debts especially next of kin/contracts payment should be released to the beneficiaries forth with unconditionally this second quarter of this year 2015, as your payment was recently approved.
Your Inheritance payment of Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($20,500,000.00) has been approved and deposited to Zenith Bank International for immediate payment to you.
Do not hesitate to contact Zenith Bank International where your $20,500,000.00 was deposited through the contact below and receive your payment.
Contact Person: Mr. Godwin KohamInternational Remittance DepartmentZenith Bank International Plc Benin RepublicTél: (+229) 99 88 61 23E-mail: zenithbankcustomercare@mynet.com {1}. Your Full Name:{2}. Your Home Address, City and Country:{3}. Your Private Cell:Preferred choice of receiving payment(A) Bank wire transfer:(B) ATM Debit Card:(C) Cash Payment:
Our mission with the instruction by the Presidency this year is to keep a clean slate of all debts that has been owned to foreigners because of some government officials and individual who are not honest.
Yours faithful.
Mr. Pascal Irenee KoupakiHonorable Minister of Finance for Foreign Affairs Benin Republic

Anti-fraud resources: