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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: "MRS.SESAN HENDERSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frb-usa@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2016 12:58:23 +0100
Subject: RE: FUND RELEASE ORDER!!!

This is to inform you of your long overdue outstanding payment in our Bank records from IMF USA, which has been transferred to an online Bank here in USA. I have been sent to find out what is still keeping this funds in the Bank, and that is why i am contacting you because we have been searching on how to get in touch with you. So kindly read carefully and confirm if you are still living.
In our central Computer, yours is among the list of unclaimed inheritance funds and you have to update your information through this email contact for immediate confirmation, and it has been approved already for payment months ago.

However we received an email from one MR. GOTSALL KIMBALL who told us that he is your next of kin and that you died in a car accident last year September. He has also submitted his account information to the office department for transfer of the fund to him as your next of Kin.

We are now verifying by contacting your email address as we have in our Bank record before we can make the transfer into his account, and for us to conclude confirmation if your are dead or not. Please, confirm immediately before our action in releasing the outstanding payment against your name. Upon this, if you are still alive, we request you send your full personal information as soon as possible to enable this department finalize the transfer of the fund to your nominated foreign Bank Account.

This Bank needs the following information from you urgently for proper confirmation that if you are alive.
1.) FULL NAME:
2.) HOME ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER:
3.) AGE/MARITAL STATUS:
4.) SEX

Once again, We apologize to you on behalf of our Bank towards this means of contact and proper confirmation required urgently from you, if your are still alive or not. You can get back to us via email/fax: once we receive your confirmation then we shall forward your details to the Department. We hope this mail reaches you in good faith.
Thank you for your co-operation.

Yours Faithfully,
MRS.SESAN HENDERSON
Office On Terrorism And Fiancial Crim.
International Fund Tranfer Department,
IMF Release Order No. IMF /US/005/11/XYT/CRO-12
+TEL: (+1)315-282-5059

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