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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: "Mrs Cathrine Charles" <mrs_cat123@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2005 14:41:03 +0000
Subject: GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I AM MRS CATHERINE CHARLES , A WIDOW TO LATE SHEIK
CHARLES. I AM 61 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTAIN
CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE
BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY
DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WONâ&#128;&#153;T
LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS,
THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY
BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID
AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE
PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE CULDâ&#128;&#153;NT PRODUCE ANY CHILD.
MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH,
I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS
HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN SIX
MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DEVIDE THE PART OF THIS
WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH
IN AFRICA, AMERICA ASIA, AND EUROPE. I PRAYED OVER
IT,. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $5,000.000.00
MD U.S DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT
YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY
AND UPON MY INSTRUCTION, MY ATTORNEY, WHO PRESENTLY IS
IN AFRICA DISTRIBUTING RELIEF MATERIALS TO OF BOMBLAST
IN SLERRA-LEONE, WILL FILE IN AN APPLICATION FOR THE
TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME.
LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN
TRANSFERRED WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE
I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION
WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD
JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE
WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY I AWAIT URGENT REPLY.
YOURS IN CHRIST.
MRS CATHERINE CHARLES


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