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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.Elizabth George <anton@fenster-lenhardt.at>
Reply-To: <d77beson@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2015 21:58:43 +0100
Subject: CONTACT HIM TODAY FOR YOUR ATM CARD OF US$ 1,200,000.00

Compliment!
 
My Dear, How are you today I hope you doing fine? I want to inform you about my success in getting those funds released under the co-operation of a new partner from India Presently I'm in India for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in the payment the funds despite that it failed us some how due to lack of understand and knowledge. To show that I appreciated it so much at that time.
 
I have kept for you a total sum of $1,200.000.00 in an ATM VISA CARD .I am pleased to inform you that ATM card Number 4848 4229 6786 6041 for the sum of US$1,200,000.00 has been credited in your favor and ready for immediate delivery to you. You are hereby required to confirm your telephone number and present address were you want the ATM card delivered to you.This is your (PIN CODE Pin-6670) of the VISA CARD and it is only the card they  will be sending to you.
 
CONTACT: Mr David Benson
Account Officer, Cotonou,Benin Republic,
His email address:d77beson@gmail.com
HOT LINE; +229 98820259
 
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferer at that time. In the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects which I and the new partner are having at hand, finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to David Benson on your behalf to receive that ATM VISA CARD, so feel free to get in touch with David Benson, they will send the ATM VISA CARD to you without any delay.
 
Have a wonderful day.
Sincerely Yours,
Mrs.Elizabth George

Anti-fraud resources: