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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: "HSBC BANK"<friendslikeyou_2006@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: <access2directorofelectronicdepart@live.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:16:59 -0700
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVED.

HSBC BANK PLC
123 DUDLEY RAOD SW LONDON,
England SE19 1TX
Tel: +44-703-1961-536

Attn:Mr.Beneficiary

Dear Sir,
PAYMENT OF US$1,500,000 HAS BEEN APPROVED

Every arrangement has been concluded for your payment in your favour based
on the instruction from the INTERNATIONAL MONITORING FUND (IMF) .

You are hereby advised to forward to this office,full names,private phone
number and your banking information to avoid payment to a wrong account.

Thanks for Your Cooperation.
DR BROWN OWEN.
Foreign operation remittance department

HSBC Bank UK.



Anti-fraud resources: