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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: "Dr. Goodluck Jonathan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <goodluckjo@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2017 11:40:24 -0400
Subject: FROM DR. GOODLUCK JONATHAN.

Dear Friend,
 
I know this letter will come to you as a surprise because we have not met or talked before. I got your email contact from an email directory and I am contacting you via this medium because of the confidentiality that this business that I am about to propose to you requires.
 
I am Dr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the immediate past President of Nigeria and I have an amount of money, US$35m(Thirty Five Million United States Dollars) deposited in an European bank.
 
All I want you to do is to stand as my representative in your country, so that the money will be transferred to your bank account. For standing as my representaive, I will offer you 20% of the money while I invest the remaining 80% in any lucrative business in your country.
 
If you can handle the transaction, please go ahead and forward your following details to me;
 
1, FULL NAME AND ADDRESS.
2, AGE AND OCCUPATION.
3, TELEPHONE NUMBER(S).
 
As soon as I hear from you, I will give you further details regarding this business proposal as well as the name of the bank where I deposited the money.
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Regards,
 
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
 
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: