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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: "Miss Matilda" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gfg.online@citromail.hu>
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2019 12:06:44 -0700
Subject: Please I need your help please

Hello I need your help please, my name is Miss Matilda Z. I am working with Financial Bank in DRC an account manager to late Prince who died in gold mining collapsed. I'm here to inform you that after several attempts to locate any of my client relatives, family members since 2017 practically proved abortive, I am delighted to locate you been a foreigner like my client. I will like us to
discuss about my client finances amounted to US$4,100,000.00 with us.
I am seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin to my client so that his fund will be transferred to you. You will get 60% for your participation to secure the fund, while 40% will be for me.
Kindly get back to me as soon as you get this message.
Sincerely,
Miss Matilda

Anti-fraud resources: