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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: "Dr.Richard Martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richardmartins03@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:13:09 -0700
Subject: Your Over Due Funds

From;Dr.Richard Martins
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
International Operations/Foreign funds
Debt Reconciliation/Payment
 
Your Attention:Beneficiary,
 
Your Over Due Inheritance/contract Funds.
 
This is to notify you that your over due  contract funds has been gazettes to be Released,via key telex transfer (KTT) direct wire transfer to you by the Senate house committee for foreign over due fund transfer.
 
 
Meanwhile, a woman wrote to my office few days ago with a letter,claiming to be your True representative. Here are her informations:AllOver Due Inheritance/contract Funds winner prize have recall to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Both Africa and Asia and around the world.
 
 
Name: Mrs. Janet White
Bank Name: The Commerce Bank
Bank Address: 1837, Richmond av.
Staten Island, New York
Account Number: 7920507852,Routing
No:026-013-673,Swift Code: CBNAUS33
 
Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this woman is from you So that the Bank will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account Name. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been approved and accredited by the Federal Ministry Of Finance and the Senate House committee for foreign over due fund,to pay all foreign Over due inheritance
funds and contract to respective original beneficiaries this Third quarter Payment of the year 2009.
 
 
However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mrs.Janet White, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today.
 
Best regards,
Your Sincerely,
Dr.Richard Martins
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
International Operations
Debt Reconciliations/Payment

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