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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: "DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <minoffinance@tuta.io>
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2018 23:39:27 -0800
Subject: Please read very important

US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW, in
Washington, D.C
Tel:+1-518-284-1841
 
============================
Dear Benenficiary,
 
Happy new year greetings from the management of the United states department of treasury. we hope to have a wonderful year this 2018.
 
As part of our plans to serve the world and the american citizens at large with the best of services and transparency in all our activities, you have been nominated to be a beneficiary of the initial compensation of the sum of $586 million USD.
 
Now this money did not just appear out of the moon.
 
Details of the origin of the funds will be communicated to you immediately we re-confirm the following informations of yours.
 
As we make preparations to remit the funds to you through the safest and easiest means you will prefer.
 
Full Name....................
Home Address.................
Age/Occupation..............
Valid Phone number............
Country/State........
Any Of Your Identity Card........
Kindly get back to us by reconfirming your full information.
 
Mr. Harold Wesley
Head of Operations
 

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