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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: "MICHAEL COLLINS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelcollins1102@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2016 10:21:00 +0200
Subject: ATM VISA CARD COMPENSATION

Attention: Beneficiary,
 
                           IRREVOCABLE RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT.(US$20.5M)
 
We are of the United Nations Debt Reconciliation Unit newly set up by the United Nations in conjunction with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Based on series of petitions we received from various organizations such as Cooperate Bodies and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) on the Inability of some Government of different countries, Commercial banks and World Lottery Organization to settle their clients Contract debt, Inheritance Fund and Winning prizes.
 
After an extensive close door meeting between the Board of Directors of the UNITED NATIONS, THE WORLD BANK-GROUP AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND), it was resolved and agreed upon that this body "world international debt reconciliation committee" will work extensively to ensure that your Contract Payment, Your Inheritance and Lottery Winning prizes will be paid without hitches and delay through the World Bank –Group and IMF Insurance body. You are therefore advice to send the below information.
 
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. YOUR ADDRESS :
3. YOUR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
4. YOUR AGE:
5. CURRENT OCCUPATION:
6. YOUR BANK DETAILS:
 
Note that on receipt of your complain and list of debt due for payment, Your Fund will be called back from its various point where it has been tied up by World Bank and IMF and your payment will be arranged on the follow option below;
 
A). Via ATM card payment that you can use to withdraw money in any ATM machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is Ten Thousand dollars per a day.
 
B) Your fund can still release to you through bank to bank wire transfer if you can provide your bank details
 
Thanks for your co-operation.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
Dr. Michael Collins/Mrs. Evelyn Coker
World Bank Auditors
Director Foreign Remittance Department/Special Duties
Office Hot Line +234-12952920 or Mobile Number +234-8168067888

Anti-fraud resources: