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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: "MR. PAUL WALTER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <paulwalter.un@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:00:39 -0700
Subject: Have you received your payment?

Good day,
 
If truly you have not yet receive your Inheritance / Contract Payment, please reconfirm your information once again to release your payment through our corresponding paying bank in New York.
 
You are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to anyone for any reason whatsoever. Could you please send me your information.
 
1. Your full Name.
2. Contact Home Address.
3. Your Cell-phone Number.
4. Your Date of Birth.
5. Your International Passport photo page or your Driver's License.
We are waiting for your response.
MR. PAUL WALTER
United Nations
Email: paulwalter.un@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources: