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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: Barr. Hasszan Zanam
Reply-To: hassanzanam@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2019 12:58:13 +0100
Subject: Let us work together

My good friend, I am so delighted to come across your contact through researches on the internet. My name is Barrister Hassan Zanam, a lawyer by profession from Benin in west Africa. I am contacting you due to your last name for us to execute a risk free business transaction involving a large amount of money. I want to move this money into your bank account where we shall share it afterwards. I will give you more details revealing the nature of the business when I receive your reply indicating your readiness to work with me.

Best Regards,
Barrister Hassan Zanam

Anti-fraud resources: