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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: "ALEX MEKOBA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alexmekoba12@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2016 15:08:39 +0100
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE/DESK

FROM THE DESK OF MR.ALEX MEKOBA
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AGENCY
INTERNATIONAL OPERATION DEPT
VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
RE-OUTSTANDING PAYMENT

This is to inform you of your long overdue Payment outstanding our

Banking records. I saw your name in the Central Computer among list of

unpaid inheritance claims individuals and have to update your

information through this email contact for immediate confirmation.

Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-

payment of US$20.500, 000 million (Twenty million and five hundred

thousand United State dollars) and it has been approved already for

payment months ago. However we received an email from one Mr. Morris

Thompson who told us that he is your next of kin and that you died in a

car accident last four months back.

He has also submitted his account information to the office department

for transfer of the fund to him as your inheritor. We are now verifying

by contacting your email address as we have in our Bank records before

we can make the transfer into his account and for us to conclude

confirmation if you are dead or not. Please, confirm response

immediately before our action release of the outstanding payment

against your name listed out.Upon this, i request you send your full

personal information as soon as possible to enable this department

finalize the transfer of the fund release to your nominated foreign

Bank Account. This department needs the following information from you

urgently.

1. Full Names..........
2. Telephone and Fax Number..........
3. Contact Address..........

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the

individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain

information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure

under applicable law. Once again, I apologize to you on behalf of

International Monetary fund Agency towards this contact and proper

confirmation required urgently from you if alive. Make sure you reply

to my alternative mail address (alexmekoba1@gmail.com)

Thanks,
Yours Sincerely
MR.ALEX MEKOBA
International Monetary Fund Agency

Anti-fraud resources: