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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: "Ms. Pamela" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tinabarwick50@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2018 06:55:07 -0700
Subject: RE:

Hello friend,
 
I am Mrs. Pamela T. Barwick, accounts officer with Finance Bank Plc. I would like you to stand as the Next of kin to our deceased customer who made a deposit of (USD10.5M) with our bank before his death.  He died Intestate of no any registered next of kin and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary mandate that who ever shall provide a person with a proof of documents will have the money, this is why I decided to contact you since i have in my possession documents that will back up this claims.  Your quick reply is required for comprehensive details on what to do.
 
Best regards,
Mrs.Pamela T. Barwick.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Hola amigo,
 
Soy la señora Pamela T. Barwick, oficial de cuentas de Finance Bank Plc. Me gustaría que se mantenga como el pariente más cercano a nuestro cliente fallecido que hizo un depósito de (USD10.5M) con nuestro banco antes de su muerte. Murió intestado de ningún familiar registrado y, como tal, los fondos ahora tienen un mandato de beneficiario abierto de que alguien que presente una prueba de documentos tendrá el dinero, por eso decidí contactarlo desde que tengo mis documentos de posesión que respaldarán estos reclamos. Se requiere su respuesta rápida para obtener detalles completos sobre qué hacer.
 
Atentamente,
Mrs.Pamela T. Barwick.

Anti-fraud resources: