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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: Terry Hallaway <info@kangton.com>
Reply-To: stewartterry802@gmail.com
Date: 4 Jun 2021 08:19:44 +0800
Subject: FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION

Good Day,

  I am counsel to late Brad  who died on the 20th of February 2018 with his immediate family in a car accident. Before his death he had a deposit of over $24,500,000.00 in a bank which by law would revert to an established next of kin in the event of his death.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased seeing as you both bear the same surname. This gives you right to claim the proceeds of this account and then we can both share it on agreed terms.

Reply if you wish to continue and also kindly send your number so we can discuss privately for further deliberation.

Respectfully,
Terry Hallaway

Anti-fraud resources: