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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: Frank Thompson <frank222th@yahoo.ca>
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 08:23:08 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Thank you


Dear Pastor,

I thank you so much for your mail,but I want you to understand my present situation.I don't have any chance to print out the document for me to fill it and send it back to you.If you are really ready to assist me ,you should contact my bank director and ask him about their procedures.Failing to follow my instructions, it is better for you to forget about this transaction.So that I will look for another reliable person to handle my inherit funds.

Thanks and God bless us.

FRANK.


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