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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: "KEN MARK." <kenmark200@excite.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:07:04 -0600
Subject: DEAR FRIEND


DEAR FRIEND,

I PRESUME THIS EMAIL WILL BE A SURPRISE TO YOU, BUT IT
IS REAL.

I CAME ACROSS $12,500,000 THAT IS UNCLAIMED IN
STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE I WORKED. THE
SAID FUND BELONG TO ONE OF OUR LATE CLIENT CALLED
MANFRED BACKER.

TO ENABLE ME MAKE THIS CLAIM OF THIS $12,500,000:00, I
NEED A CO OPERATION OF A FOREIGN PARTNER LIKE YOU THAT
WILL GIVE ME THE MAXIMUN ASSISTANCE REQUIRED TO MAKE
THIS CLAIM.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, KINDLY ASK ME FOR MORE DETAIL.

YOURS FAITHFULLY.

KEN MARK.



Anti-fraud resources: