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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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Fraud email example:

From: Alan Bailey <Admindepartment@imperiallottery.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 20:32:51 +0100 (CET)
Subject: REFERENCE NUMBER: IL6341-6/ 289-4PP


FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
IMPERIAL LOTTERY UK.


DEAR PRIZE WINNER,

RESULTS FOR PROMOTIONAL DRAW
IMPERIAL LOTTERY UK wishes to inform you of the results of its Promotional draws held on the 5TH of FEBRAURY 2005 as part of our New Year bonanza. We are happy to officially inform you that you have emerged a winner under our Third Category Draws, which is part
of our promotional draws. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 40,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our
International Promotions Program.

You

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