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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "cynthia wood" <cynthia80wood@msn.com>
Reply-To: cynth50wood@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 11:34:29 +0000
Subject: reply

Lloyds TSB Group plc
25 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7HN

I discovered a dormant account in my office, as Group finance director with
Lloyds bank London. It will be in my interest to transfer this fund
worth $20,000,000 million dollars in an account offshore. If you can be a
collaborator to this please indicate interest immediately for us to
proceed. Remember this is absolutely confidential. My husband does not
know about this risk taking. My family will be in shambles if it burst out
and i will also be in trouble swell as lose my precious job. Your contact
phone numbers and name will be necessary for this effect.

Regards and respect,

Cynthia Wood.
Group Finance Director
Lloyds Bank London.



Anti-fraud resources: