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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: patrick kwame <patrick_kwame2@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:44:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REPLY URGENT


HELLO,

I ASK YOU TO MAIL MY BANK, HAVE YOU DONE THAT, PLESAE SEND THE APPLICATION TO MR. BENSON AS I TOLD DO THAT FAST AND GET BACK TO ME OK.

SEND THE APPLICATION TO MY BANK AS I DIRECTED YOU TO DO, AS SOON AS DO THAT I WILL START WORKING ON HOW TO TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

IF YOU DON'T DO THAT THERE IS KNOW WAY THEY WILL KNOW ABOUT IT SO DO THAT AND GET BACK TO ME OK''

PATRICK.


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