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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: Aderemi Babalola New Minister of Finance <bartus.gawron@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: federalministry20082008@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 01 May 2010 12:45:14 -0700
Subject: Approval on your inheritance part payment by the New President

From:
Office of the New Minister of Finance
Federal Ministry of Finance
Federal Secretariat Abuja

Congratulations dear beneficiary

Approval on your inheritance part payment by the New Acting President

After the inaugural meeting with the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan had on Tuesday 6th April 2010 during which the new appointed Ministers where given task by the Acting President to perform creditably and regain the image of our country from the International Community, where all debts owed to foreign contractors and individuals where approved for immediate part payment

I wish to use this opportunity to congratulate you that your name is among the approved list of beneficiaries forwarded to my office today for immediate part payment of US$5,500,000.00 by the Acting President of the Federation. This payment exercise is aimed at putting back smiles and hope to our country's numerous contractors and beneficiaries who has been frustrated and lost thousands of dollars to the hands of past administrations and fraudsters in their attempt to receive their lawful inheritance.

The Federal Government under the new administration wish to render an apology to those beneficiaries who has suffered an untold hardship due to the amount of money lost to the hands of these fraudsters who are now in the watch eyes of the FBI and EFCC to arrest, prosecute them and recover all the looted funds from them. We are sincerely sorry and Government will do everything within the law to restore that trust and confidence which is the purpose of this payment exercise.

Therefore, in order for us to complete this payment successfully to the rightful beneficiaries, we require your cooperation to follow our stipulated directives and provide us with the following information for re-confirmation:

Full Name:
Address:
Direct Telephone:
Occupation:
Age:

Finally, indicate your readiness to receive your fund by notifying us your preferred means of receiving your fund, either by bank to bank Wire Transfer, Issue of International Certified Bank Check/Draft, Issue of International Master Card on your name or through cash payment by diplomatic means and most importantly, strictly stop every other communication to any other person, financial institutions or organization claiming to pay or assist you in this your inheritance payment as New Acting President has stopped/cancel every other arrangement in the past and handed all inheritance/contract payment to this office and every communication should be kept confidential till the fund is confirmed in your account to avoid misinformation from the unauthorized person.

Thanks for your cooperation and congratulations

Aderemi Babalola
Minister of Finance (State)

Anti-fraud resources: