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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: "Rev. John Martins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <office.atmpaymentoffice.atmpay@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 23:48:28 -0700
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD PAYMENT.

Attention Beneficiary
 
Compliment of the day, sorry for my way of communication to you. but is urgent i contact you, kindly be informed that 6.8 Million Dollars has been credited in your favor,Contact Me for more details and send
me your full information such as,
 
FULL NAMES:
ADDRESS:
MOBILE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS:
COMPANY NAME (IF ANY):
OCCUPATION:
AGE/DATE OF BIRTH:
MARITAL STATUS:
 
I await your response to enable me know how to proceed.
 
Have a blessed day.
 
Rev. John Martins

Anti-fraud resources: