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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: "EUGENE & DORIS SANKOH" <doris_sankoh2@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 13:19:32 +0100
Subject: investment assistance

DEAR SIR/MADAM

AM EUGENE & DORIS SANKOH,THE ONLY SOU AND DAUGHTER OF
LATE MR AND MRS FODAY SANKOH. PLEASE AND PLEASE DO NOT
BE EMBARASED,WE ARE SEEKING YOUR ATTENTION TO HELP US
TRANSFER THE SUM OF TWELVE MILLION UNITED STATE AMERICAN
DOLLARS. IN YOUR ACCOUNT.PLEASE IT IS MORE THAN URGENT,
MOREOVER, DEAR, AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL
SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE
SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND INTO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT
IN OVERSEAS.PLEASE REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR CALL +22507754566

THANKS,
EUGENE SANKOH


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