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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: "CHRIST WALLACE"<info-audit@audit.com>
Reply-To: <christwallace@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:48:08 +0100
Subject: DEAR FRIEND, REMINDER'S UPDATE

Dear Good Friend

We wish to notify you again that you are listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of 10,600,000.00GBP (Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand British Pounds) in the council and last testament of the deceased. (Name now withheld since this is our second letter to you). We contacted you because of your good name to the society and therefore we can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance.

We therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed in your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents for the release of this sum of money.

Please contact me for further details of the funds.

Yours Faithfully,
Christ Wallace

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