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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: "Michael Finnerty." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mfinnerty277@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2016 13:04:00 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,




I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner, This is a
personal email directed to you for your consideration alone, I request
that it remain and be treated as such only. I am Mr. Michael Finnerty
Auditor working with Banco Santander,I have an interesting
business proposal for you that will be of immense benefit to both of
us. Although this may be hard for you to believe, we stand to gain €15,000,000.00
(fifteen million euro) between us in a matter of days. Please grant me the
benefit of doubt and hear me out. I need you to signify your interest
by replying to this mail. Most importantly, I will need you to promise
to keep whatever you learn from me between us even if you decide not
to go along with me. The owner of this dormant account is a Foreigner
by name "Steve Fossett" who died on September 3, 2007. in a plane
crash in Sierra Nevada. On further investigation i realized that his
wife also passed away shortly after his death and they had no child.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Fossett

The bank will approve this money to any foreigner because the former
operator of the account is a foreigner and from USA in particular and
I am certainly sure that he is dead, and nobody will come again for
the claim of this money A foreigner can only claim this money with
legal claims to the account Holder; therefore I need your cooperation
in this transaction. I will provide the necessary information needed
in order to claim this money, But you will have a corporate or
personal Bank Account where this can be transferred. If you are
capable of assisting me then send your private Telephone No, Your Age,
occupation And Fax number.I wish for utmost confidentiality in
handling this transaction. I want to assure you that the transaction
is free from any type of risk because due process will be followed
accordingly. I will make more details available to you on receipt of a
positive response from you. Reply me at: mfinnerty277@gmail.com.

Greetings,

Michael Finnerty.

Anti-fraud resources: