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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: DR (MRS) SARAH ALADE <egobia_bestman@emsergipe.com>
Reply-To: drsarahalade2@yahoo.it
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:13:10 -0300
Subject: TREAT AS MOST URGENT

Attn: Sir/Madam=20My name is Dr Mrs Sarah Alade Deputy Governor, Economic Policy of Central= Bank of Nigeria, i am seeking your assitance to transfer the sum of 21.5=m usd into your foreign bank account. The sum in question is as a result =of overfloat of funds in our treasury.=20Please get back to me on my private email address for more information.Email: drsarahalade4@yahoo.itThank you,=20Dr Mrs Sarah Alade=20Deputy Governor,=20Economic Policy=20Central Bank of Nigeria=20

Anti-fraud resources: