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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "CHIEF TONY ANNENIH" <chieftony_annenih@mailbox.hu> (may be fake)
Reply-To: chief_tony_annenih@mailbox.hu
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 11:22:45 -0700
Subject: HELLO

FROM CHIEF TONY ANNENIH
LAGOS NIGERIA
DEAR SIR

I AM CHIEF TONY ANNENI THE FORMER CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR OF
PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO AND ALSO THE FORMER MINISTER OF WORKS AND HOUSING IN HIS CABINET. I GOT YOUR.EMAIL ADDRESS FROM AN INTERNET DIRECTORY AND HENCE MY DECISION TO CONTACT YOU. I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE DURING THE CAMPAIGN FUND RASING WE GOT OVER $500,000,000, FROM DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXTRA-MINISTRIAL SPENDING.OUT OF THIS MONEY WE SPENT ABOUT $400,000,000 DURING THE CAMPAIGNS WHILE THE REST WAS DEPOSITED IN A SPECIAL ACCOUNT IN A FINANCIAL HOUSE.

THE FUND WAS LODGED IN A SECURITY COMPANY . AFTER THE CAMPAIGNS AND SUBSEQUENT VICTORY BY THE PRESIDENT, WE DECIDED TO SEEK FOR AN HONEST AND RELIABLE FOREIGNER TO KEEP THIS FUND FOR US IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT ABROAD FROM THIS SECURITY COMPANY, AND THEN INVEST SOME PART OF THIS FUND IN SOME BLUE CHIP COMPANIES IN HIS COUNTRY OR ABROAD. FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND HONESTY YOU WILL GET 35% OF THIS FUND, 5% HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR EXPENTIDURES INCURRED BY BOTH SIDES IN THE CAUSE OF THIS TRANSACTION. WHILE THE REMAINING IS FOR I AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

SIR WE WANT TO ASSURE THAT THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED AT ALL, AS ALL POSSIBLE AREAS OF RISK HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE BY I AND MY COLLEAGUES
ON ACCEPTANCE PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS
chief_tony_annenih@mailbox.hu
HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WITH REGARDS
CHIEF TONY ANNENI



Anti-fraud resources: