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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: "Mr. Mark Onyeori" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mark.onyeori@consultant.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 21:52:28 -0700
Subject: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN!!!

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN
ECONOMICAL FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC)
Mrs. Farida Waziri
FCT ABUJA-NIGERIA
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Attention:Beneficially,
 
I am Mrs. Farida Waziri the chairperson of ECONOMICAL FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC) EFCC in alliance with economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) with head Office here in Nigeria. We have been working towards the eradication exercise of fraudsters and scam Artists in Western part of Africa. With the help of United States Government and the United Nations we have been able to tracked down so many of this scam artist in various parts of West African countries which includes (NIGERIA, REPUBLIC OF BENIN, TOGO, GHANA CAMEROUN AND SENEGAL LONDON) and they are all in our custody here in Lagos Nigeria.
We have also been able to recover so much money from these scam artists. The United Nation Anti-crime commission and the United State Government have ordered that the money recovered from these Scammers should be shared among 100 Lucky people around the globe. This message is been directed to you because your email address was found in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard disk in our custody here in Nigeria. You are therefore to be compensated with USD700,000.00 thousand united State Dollars only.
 
Consequent to the record we have here, this Scam Artists has defrauded a lot of people of their hard earned currencies, as they claims Barristers/Bank officials, Lottery Agents who has money for transfer or want you to be the next of kin of such funds which do not really exist. Since your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive this compensation offer of USD700,000.00 thousand united State Dollars only we have arranged your payment through our telegraphic wire transfer, so get back to us with your banking details.
 
You should now feel free to contact Mr. Mark Onyeori, via the below contact details.
Contact person: Mr. Mark Onyeori
E-mail: mark.onyeori@consultant.com
Tel: +234 80 5052 5857
 
Best Regard,
Mrs. Farida Waziri.
(Chairman EFCC)

Anti-fraud resources: