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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: "Rev. David Wilkinson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidwillkinson@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2012 23:48:00 +0100
Subject: DEAD OR ALIVE..

 
FROM THE DESK OF:
DR SANUSI LAMIDO.
CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
#34,MARINA STREET
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
 
YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS:
 
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZZETED TO
BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT) DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU OR THROUGH
ANY OF OUR CORROSPONDENT BANK NOMINATED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN
OVER DUE FUND TRANSFER.
 
MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE A FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER CLAIMING TO
BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE. HERE ARE HER INFORMATION:-
 
NAME: JANET WHITE
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT Number: 6503809428.
 
PLEASE, DO RE-CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS FROM
YOU SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING
INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME. IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT YOUR REP, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO
FILL AND SEND THIS INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATIONS PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR FUND WILL BE
REMITTED INTO
 
YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT.
 
1. YOUR NAME:.....................
 
2. YOUR FULL ADDRESS:...............
 
3. YOUR TELEPHONE ..................
 
4. FAX..............................
 
5. AGE..............................
 
6. SEX:.............................
 
7. YOUR OCCUPATION:.................
 
8. YOUR VALID BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS:........
 
9. AMOUNT OF CLAIM:.........
 
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH ALL NECESSARY PROCEDURES
IN OTHER TO REMMIT THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR,
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN OVER DUE
INHERITTANCE FUND HAVE APPROVED AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS,TO HANDLE
AND TRANSFER ALL FOREIGN INHERITTANCE FUNDS
 
THIS SECOND QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR. HOWEVER, WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL
PAYMENTS DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS. WHITE IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHEN THE NEXT
SEVEN WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.
 
WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCOVINENCE THE DELAY IN TRANSFERING OF THIS FUND MAY HAVE
CAUSED YOU.
 
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR SANUSI LAMIDO.
(CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA)
 
CC: THE PRESIDENCY (D.M.O.)
CC: SENATE PRESEDENT.
CC: BOARD OF DIRECTORS [FPD].
CC: ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION.

Anti-fraud resources: