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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: tundt123@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 14:05:41 +0200
Subject: How are You doing today?

DEAR FRIEND


I am a member of the "Contract Award Committee", Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nigeria.
We are in search of an agent who will assist us in the transfer of
Thirty-one
Million US Dollars (US$31m) and subsequent investment of same in
Lucrative
Venture in your country.
You will be required to.
1) Assist in the transfer of the said sum
2) Advise on lucrative area(s) of investment, and
3) Assist in the management of same investments.
[4] Your contact phone/fax numbers
[5] Your address and bank info possible open new account for this
Project
Could you be kind enough to render your services to us in this?
Regard, you
Shall
Be rewarded with 15% of the total sum stated above while 10% of the
Investments
Dividends shall be paid to you annually.
Kindly indicate by sending an email to me so that I can give you the modalities.
Yours faithfully,
Tunde Balogun

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