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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: "EDU JOHNSON" <edujohnson3@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 03:21:46 +0100
Subject: Good Day


Attn: Sir/Madam


This is to inform you that your outstanding Inheritance fund valued at
$1,500 000 00 Have been approved for immediate payment by the Ecconomic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Through ATM CARD Payment Swift
Card, which will enable you make a withdrawal of your fund in any ATM
machine in your Country.Therefore you are advise to contact the Central Bank
of Benin with the following information stated below, for the immediate
issuance of your ATM payment Card.


Central Bank of Benin
ATM Payment Department
Contact Person:Dr.Shehu Inusa
E-mail: centralbkbn1@live.fr


Regards,
Yusufu Haji

On behalf of (ECOWAS)

Anti-fraud resources: