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

Fraud email example:

From: "emanuel okafor" <emanuel_okafor@latinmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2006 17:21:30 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED LEIGH


FROM:EMMANUEL & ASSOCIATES.
(BARRISTER EMMANUEL OKAFOR )
SOLICITORS AND ADVOCATE
#16 CANAL STREET IKOYI
(LAGOS NIGERIA.)

ATTN:LEIGH,

BEFORE I START, I MUST FIRST APOLOGIZE FOR THIS UNSOLICITED MAIL TO YOUI AM AWARE THAT THIS IS CERTAINLY AN UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO STARTING A RELATIONSHIP, BUT AS TIME GOES ON YOU WILL REALIZE THE NEED FOR MY ACTION. MY NAME IS BAR.EMMANUEL OKAFOR , A SOLICITOR AND THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO MR.ROLAND LEIGH,A CITIZEN OF YOUR COUNTRY,WHO WORKED WITH AN OIL COMPANY IN NIGERIA.HERE IN AFTER REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT. ON THE 21ST OF APRIL 2002, MY CLIENT,HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN A GHOSTLY MOTOR ACCIDENT ALONG SAGAMU EXPRESS ROAD. MY CLIENT AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY UNFORTUNATELY LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE ACCIDENT

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