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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Maria Barnett" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kelvin.williams@blog.lt>
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 20:30:42 -0500
Subject: Read Your Mail Now..

Hi,
 
I am Mrs. Maria Barnett I am a Canadian citizen, 52 years Old. I reside here in Abbotsford, British Columbia. My residential address is as follows. 104-1909 Salton Rd Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, I am one of those that took part in the Compensation in Nigeria many years ago and they refused to pay me, I paid close to 64,000 CAD (Canadian Dollars) while in Canada, trying to get my payment but all to no avail and they always stopped my funds with one reason or the order.
 
So I decided to travel with my son to FBI HEADQUATERS in WASHINGTON D.C with all my compensation documents, And I was directed by the (F B I) Director to contact Mr. Fred Walters, who is a representative of the FBI And I contacted him and he explained everything to me He took me to the paying bank for the claim of my Compensation payment. Right now I am the most happiest woman on earth because I have received my compensation funds of $15, Million Us Dollars Moreover, Mr. Fred Walters, showed me the full information of those that are yet to receive their payments and I saw your name as one of the beneficiaries, and your email address, that is why I decided to email you to stop dealing with those people, they are not with your fund, they are only making money out of you.
I will advise you to contact Mr. Fred Walters directly today on the information below to know if he can help you too.
 
COMPENSATION AWARD HOUSE / FBI CRIMINAL DIVISION
Name: Mr. Fred Walters (FBI AGENT)
Email: kelvin.williams@blog.lt
 
Note: I'm sending you this email because I don't want you to be fooled anymore by those internet criminals and because of the love I have for you and the love I have for all those innocent people been scammed day by day, by various scam artist claiming to be with their fund, You really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is not in any way with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have nothing to send to them anymore.
 
The only money I paid after I met Mr. Fred Walters was just 358.558 CAD (Canadian Dollar)(325.00 USD) for the Ownership Paper Works, take note of that.
 
Once again stop contacting those people, They are Criminals, Hoodlums so I will advise you to contact Mr. Fred Walters so that he can help you to deliver your fund instead of dealing with those liars that will be turning you around asking for different kind of money to complete your transaction.
 
God Bless you and your family.
Mrs. Maria Barnett
Salton Rd Abbotsford,
British Columbia.
Canada

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