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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: "Eric J.Brown" <ejbrownassist@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: eric@privateemail.com
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 11:05:10 +0100
Subject: Urgent Help

Good Day Sir,
It is my pleasure reaching you through this means, I am in need of a trust worthy foreign person that can assist me have my fund(s) worth 8Million English Pounds Stirling transferred out of the non operational bank account that my late Uncle, Chief. Honesty RJ. Brown deposited in ireland, for it is very difficult for me to received such fund for I am the next of kin and due to I being a refugee here, I urgently need your help in this case. Please if you are willing to assist me, do send me your contact telephone numbers, full names, so that I can present you to the bankers at ireland where the fund is deposited, for the bankers in ireland to contact you, as you as my foreign family partner that I need my fund(s) to be transferred to your account.
Await your prompt responce via this mail box:eric@privateemail.com
Yours faithfully.
Eric J. Brown


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