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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: jame ucsara <jameucsara01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:31:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION.


DEAR Dietz
THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AM DOING ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLY TO PROVE TO YOU THE LEGALITY OF THIS TRANSACTION.AL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO FORWARD TO ME YOUR CONTACT INFORMATIONS SUCH AS YOUR PHONE NUMBER, FAX NUMBER, AND YOUR CONTACT ADRESS.AS SOON AS I RECIVE THIS FROM YOU, I WIL PUT A LETTER TO THE SECURITY COMPANY LETTING THEM KNOW THAT YOU ATE THE BONIFIED BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND. AND I WILL ALSO SECURE A LETTER OF AUTHORITY UN YOUR BEHALF AND A COPY WILL BE SENT TO YOU{ VIA}ATTACHEMENT.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
REGARDS,
MR JAME.

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