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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: "John McDonald" <jmacdonald@natwestfinance-london.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 11:41:08 +0000
Subject: RE: FINAL APPROVAL

ATTN: JACKIE BROOK

DEAR MS,

RE: PAYMENT OF USD$2,000,000.00 IN FAVOUR OF JACKIE BROOK

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE NO. 1 SECTION 2 SUBSECTION 3B OF DECREE 1979,
WHICH WAS AMMENDED IN 1999 WHICH STIPULATES THAT EVERY FUND ABOVE
USD$1MILLION THAT WILL GO OUT OF THE COFFERS OF UNITED KINGDOM HAVE TO BE
SIGNED OFF BY THE BENEFICIARY BEFORE TRANSFER IN THE PRESENT OF THE OFFICE
OF THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT HERE IN THIS BANK.

YOU (BENEFICIARY) ARE HEREBY REQUESTED TO VISIT THIS OFFICE TO SIGN OFF YOUR
FUND RELEASE ORDER DOCUMENT IN ORDER TO ENABLE YOU RECEIVE YOUR FUND WITHIN
48HRS OF YOUR SIGNING.

INCASE THE BENEFICIARY (IN ANY CIRCUMTANCE) CANNOT ARRIVE FOR THE SIGNING,
HE/SHE HAS THE POWER TO APPOINT/ASSIGN THE SERVICES OF OUR ACCREDITED
ATTORNEY TO SIGN ON HIS/HER BEHALF.

FINALLY, IN LINE WITH PARAGRAPH 4 OF DECREE 1999 FOR FUND TRANSFER WHICH
STATES THAT EVERY BENEFICIARY MUST SIGN HIS/HER FINAL RELEASE ORDER
DOCUMENTS BEFORE THEIR FUNDS WILL BE WIRED TO THEIR NOMINATED BANK
ACCOUNT.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING AND HOPING TO SEE
YOU IN UNITED KINGDOM. YOU ARE HIGHLY WELCOMED.

YOURS SINCERELY,

MR. J. MACDONALD


Anti-fraud resources: