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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: "Thomas Eso." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akins2008@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2016 08:44:41 +0100
Subject: YOUR PENDING FUNDS.

Dear Beneficiary,
The C-PRV survey exercise for unclaimed funds will commence in our next quarter audit to mark the beginning of a new Financial year. I totally understand that the US$20M Inheritance payment in your name as the beneficiary was bestowed on you with the help of your counterparts; it is the usual sharp practice here. But, I fear that the incoming exercise may lead to the revocation of your payment if a speedy action is not taken. Note that the expenses you incurred why trying to claim the fund was not deliberate, your attempts to receive the said fund were frustrated' as a result of the disapproval of my predecessor on the suspicion of "Ghost Claim"
 
The term 'Ghost Claim' simply means Non appearance of a Claimant. Despite the fact that the said Inheritance payment has been accredited in your name legitimately, the continuous disapproval of your payment may persist because your comrades did poorly by introducing your claim through a Ghost Claim channel. As the incumbent director, I will be willing to exercise my executive immunity to influence the swift approval of your payment if you would accept me as your new partner. If you feel disposed towards the solicited offer on a sharing ratio of 50%-50%, please indicate by prompt response so that I may unveil the road map for this venture.
Thanks in anticipation, I hope to read from you at your earliest convenience.
Regards,
Thomas Eso.
Director, Presidential Advisory Committee on Public Debt Procurement.
 

Anti-fraud resources: