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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: "Dr Oseh Nelson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <compensations@anti-cybercrime.net>
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:18:37 +0100
Subject: Notice!!

I wish to inform you of the verdict reached by the Anti-Cyber Crime Panel on Foreign Payments for Lotto/Grant Email Promotions, Contract Payments and Inheritance Claims. This Panel was set up to compensate you with the sum of 200,000.00GBP (Two Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling Only); contact the Paymaster General immediately to verify and receive this sum awarded to you.

Regards,
Dr Samuel Nelson
Chairperson, Anti-Cyber Crime Panel.

Anti-fraud resources: