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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: paulwilson1@freenet.de
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:11:02 +0200
Subject: DEAREST FRIEND GOOD NEWS,


DEAREST FRIEND GOOD NEWS,
I AM Mr,paul wilson, AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO
INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS
IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT
YOU TO CONTACT MY SECRETARY ON
THE INFORMATION BELOW AND RECEIVE YOUR
COMPENSATION OF $1.500,000,00
FROM HIM:
NAME....:ahmed bello
EMAIL:
(dr_ahmed_bello_2001@yahoo.fr)
SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO
PROVE YOURSELF TO HIM.
YOUR FULL NAME.... ADDRESS..... COUNTRY..
AGE...OCCUPATION.... PHONE NUMBER...past port id
Regard
Dr paul
wilson








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