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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: "Mr Jacobs Bobby" <jacobsbobby2005@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jacobsbobby23@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 01:17:00 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

DEAR SIR,
I AM BOBBY JACOBS, A LIBERIAN. I HAVE A LARGE QUANTITY OF GOLD FOR SAIL. IT IS DEPOSITED WITH A BANK SOMEWHERE. I WILL FURNISH YOU WITH EVERY INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION IN OUR NEXT MAIL. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, YOU CAN NOW APPLY.
THANK'S
BOBBY JACOBS.




Anti-fraud resources: