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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: "THOMPSON KENNETH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomken101@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:35:07 -0700
Subject: Re: Official Mail From THOMPSON KENNETH

Greetings,
 
After going through your  profile,via google It seems you are a sincere person.I am a Soldier working as United Nations peace keeping troop in Iraq, on war against terrorism.On the other hand I need your assistance, I have in my possession the sum  of ($10,000,000)(TEN MILLION US dollars) Which I made here in Iraq and I deposited  this money with a Red Cross agent as a  family consignment contains personal effect.I want you to stand as the beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe so that as soon as I come back, you will assist me to invest it in a good profitable  venture, I will give you 40% of the total money for the assistance after you have receive the money. I believe I can trust you. Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities, which are secured so nobody can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you.
 
I will only reach you through email, because our calls might be monitored, I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with. Please if you can handle this please let me know so that I will furnish you on the modality to follow also make sure that you keep everything confidential till you receive the fund cash as a consignment.
 
Get back to me with the following information below for us to proceed.
YOUR FULL NAME:__________________________ADDRESS:____________________
YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:_________________AGE____________________
NEAREST AIRPORT:_________________________Occupation:_________________
A COPY OF IDENTIFICATION:
 
Please if you are willing to do this with me,Reply this mail as soon as possible  thomken101@gmail.com
 
 
I wait your response.
Capt: THOMPSON KENNETH
      thomken101@gmail.com
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: