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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: "Mr.Michael Swasser" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:31:59 -0700
Subject: RESPONSE NEEDED FOR URGENT ATTN:

Dear Friend
 
My name is Mr.Michael Swasser, I am one of the branch manager of my Bank.
I am writing to seek your cooperation over this business deal.Please, no
matter how strange or surprising this business might seem to you as we
have not met personally or had any dealings before, to the aim of this
letter is business that will benefit the both of us. This fund is the
excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made as profit during
the year in my Head Office and they will never know of this Excess. I have
since then, placed this amount of US$7.500.000.00 (Seven Million Five
hundred Thousand United States Dollars) on a SUSPENCE ACCOUNT without a
beneficiary.I am currently seeking a means of expanding and relocating
business interest in the following sectors: Banking Real estate, Stock
speculation and mining, Transportation and Tobacco, Agriculture, Oil and
gas and Gold. I intend to part 30% of this fund to you while 70% shall be
for me. It is going to be a bank-to-bank Wire transfer to your nominated
bank account anywhere you feel safer.All I need from you is to stand as
the original depositor of this fund.
 
I am waiting for your urgent response!!!
 
With regards,
 
Mr.Michael Swasser

Anti-fraud resources: