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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: "Mr. George Howard Kofi"<georgehowardkofi11@sify.com>
Reply-To: <georgekofi209@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:44:23 -0700
Subject: DEAR BENEFICIARY YOUR PAYMENT HAVE BEEN APPROVE BY SWIFT ATM DEBIT CARD, YOUR REPLY IS NEEDED.

From: George Howard Kofi.
 
 
My Dear Friend,
 
It was Resolved and Agreed upon that your Inheritance/Contract Funds
would be released to you on a special method of payment which tag Name
Reads "SWIFT ATM DEBIT MASTER CARD".
 
You are Adviced to Re-comfirm YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, OCCUPATION, AGE,
NEXT OF KIN AND PHONE NUMBER TO CLAIM YOUR FUND.
 
I wait to hear from you along with the above mentioned information.
 
Thanks and God bless.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
 
GEORGE HOWARD KOFI.

Anti-fraud resources: