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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: Mary Gabriel <mattokun83@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Mary Gabriel <marygbrl@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2015 08:23:49 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello Dearest


Hello Dearest
I am Mary Gabriel 18yrs old and the only child to late Dr. Smith Gabriel from Australia. My late father made a deposit sum of $12.5 M US Dollars in a foreign bank were I am now. This fund was meant to export cocoa before he died and my mother died after giving birth to me. I want you to help me claim this fund and receive it in any account of your choice as I have no one to assist me claim this fund and I have the lodgement receipt. I am ready to negotiate a better percentage with you, if you agreed to help me out. I will tell you more about me and give you full details how to contact bank where the fund was lodged by my late father.
Yours sincerely
Mary Gabriel

Anti-fraud resources: