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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:17:38 +0100
Subject: NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY





=C2=A0MY DEAR FRIEND=20
=C2=A0
I DIDNOT FORGOT YOUR PAST EFFORT AND ATTEMPS TO ASSIST ME, NOW I'M HAPPY =
TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE SUCEEDED IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED UND=
ER THE COOPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER FROM JAPAN. NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY =
ASK HIM FOR($750.000.00) FOR YOUR COMPENSATION=20
=C2=A0
HIS,NAME IS:FRANKDON,=20
=C2=A0
E-MAIL:(frank_usdon@live.fr)=20
=C2=A0
PLEASE SEND TO HIM YOUR PERSONAL CONTACT=20
=C2=A0
1,FULL NAME...............=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=20
2,DELIVERY ADDRESS........=20
3,PHONE NUMBER...........=20
4. AGE:....................
5.YOUR COUNTRY.............

PLEASE CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY YOU RECIEVE THIS MAIL.=20
=C2=A0
YOURS FAITHFULLY=20
BARR: CHARLES BENUSDON



Anti-fraud resources: