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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. Patricia Spencer Gold." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info@citibankgroup.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2016 10:31:36 -0500
Subject: YOUR FUNDS TRANSFER NOTIFICATION.

Citibank Group International Mrs. Patricia Spencer Gold. Director, Telex/wire Transfer Dept Citibank Group International International Payments Department United Kingdom. Email:info@citibankgroup.co.uk Email:citigroup_uk@live.com Tel:+44-2035146948 Our Ref: CITIBANK/LON-UK01 Offices of Mrs. Patricia Spencer Gold Director, Telex/Wire Transfer Dept. TRANSFER NOTIFICATION Attn: International Customer, Dear Sir This is to inform you that we are about to make the transfer of your funds into your bank account and will need a re-confirmation of the account information and your international passport/Drivers License scan copies within 24hrs to avoid mistakes.   Above is for your kind and Urgent attention to this matter. Sincerely yours, Mrs. Patricia Spencer Gold. Director, Telex/wire Transfer Dept Citigroup, UK. Directline:+44-7035931755. ________________________________________________________________________These documents contain information from citigroup bank, which may be confidential and /or legally privileged. These materials are intended only for the personal and confidential use of the addressee as identified above. If you are not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering these materials to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this transmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this fax message in error, please immediately notify the sender of this message. Thank you. Citigroup bank.

Anti-fraud resources: