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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: "hasa" <hasa@webmail.alfa.com.lb>
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 20:01:49 +0200
Subject: Mr.Jerry Hassan From Ivorian First Bank Plc.

Mr.Jerry Hassan From Ivorian First Bank Plc.
Private Téléphone
Dear Partner
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
I am the account officer to Gerald Welsh who died in an air
crash along with his wife on the 31st October 1999 in an
Egyptian airline 990 with other passengers on board. You can
confirm this from the website below which was published by
CNN.WEBSITE.I am contacting you of a business transfer of a
huge sum of money from this my deceased account the amount
is Eighteen million,
(US$18,500,000.00) in a domiciliary account to be released
in your favour as the beneficiary's next of kin.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message furnishing me
with the following information if you are interested.(1).A
Beneficiary name and banking details (2)Details particulars
of your contact address.(3)Direct Telephone and fax numbers,

I shall be compensating you with 25% of the total sum and 5%
for any expense you in cure on final of this transaction
from my bank as I will advise you to kindly desist from
responding at all if you do NOT intend to render any
assistance.

Endeavour to respond through this my ultanative email
(hasamed222@yahoo.com)
Thanks and best regards,
Mr.Jerry Hassan


Anti-fraud resources: