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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: "mrsjoy@ono.com" <mrsjoy@ono.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2017 07:01:56 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Hello

Hello Dear,

Please forgive me for stressing you with my predicaments as I know that
this letter may come to you as big surprise. Actually, I came across
your E-mail from my personal search afterward I decided to email you
directly believing that you will be honest to fulfill my final wish
before i die. Meanwhile, I am mrs Marrian Nicholas, 62 years old, from
America, and I am suffering from a long time cancer and from all
indication my condition is really deteriorating as my doctors have
confirmed and courageously
advised me that I may not live beyond two months from now for the
reason that my tumor has reached a critical stage which has defiled all
forms of medical treatment. As a matter of fact, registered nurse by
profession while my husband was dealing on Gold Dust and Gold Dory Bars
in Burkina Faso till his sudden death the year 2008 then I took over
his business till date. In fact, at this moment I have a deposit sum of
four million five hundred thousand US dollars [$4,500,000.00] with one
of the leading
bank in Burkina Faso but unfortunately I cannot visit the bank since I’
m critically sick and powerless to do anything myself but my bank
account officer advised me to assign any of my trustworthy relative,
friends or partner with authorization letter to stand as the recipient
of my money but sorrowfully I don’t have any reliable relative and no
child.

Therefore, I want you to receive the money and take 50% to take care of
yourself and family while 50% should be use basically on humanitarian
purposes mostly to orphanages home, Motherless babies home, less
privileged and disable citizens and widows around the world. and as
soon as I receive your I shall send you my pictures, banking records
and with full contacts of my banking institution to
communicate them on the matter.

Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Faithfully,
mrs Marrian Nicholas

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