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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: "PHILIP G. SMITH" <test@r20.nalog.ru>
Reply-To: kelvmadu@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2016 08:59:36 +0800
Subject: Re: PAYMENT!

Attn. Dear Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that your unclaimed outstanding payment due to you for claims is approved. Because of the high incidence of complicities of claims by un-authorized persons who cashed in on other peoples money, a decision was made to contact beneficiaries through their private mailbox to come forward and process unclaimed funds for bank wire-transfer or ATM card issuance delivery.
A total of $10,750,000, [Ten Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand USD] has been approved and earmaked for payment to you. This is a compensation pay-out to victims and beneficiaries. All unclaimed Inheritance, Contract, and Lottery Winnings claims are covered by this payment.
Kindly reply with your real time email,full names,telephone and delivery address. Send to your claims Attorney, Mr. Kelvin Madu: kelvmadu@gmail.com
Note that by this notification you are advised to stop further communication with any office or representative concerning your payment in order to avoid payment diversion.
Thank you.
Signed,
Timothy B. Caron
 

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