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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: Mrs Valeria Sofia Rodriguez <stbzzuu@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsvaleria_sofia@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2018 02:58:48 -0700
Subject: Dear Beloved Friend

Greetings,

I am Valeria Sofia Rodriguez, I am 65 years old base in Spanish I
write to relate to you of my intention to use my money Four million
five hundred thousand Euro for charity work in your country. I was
married to Late Fernández González Rodríguez who was a contractor with
the Government of Spain before he died after few days in the hospital.
I have been suffering from cancer I want to know if I can trust you to
use these funds for charity/orphanage and 20% will be for you as
compensation.

Yours in the Lord,

Mrs Valeria Sofia Rodriguez

Anti-fraud resources: