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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. JOHN KERRY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.johnkerry.us@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 02:25:14 -0400
Subject: URGENT NOTICE

UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
RESOLUTION PANEL ON PAYMENT)
WASHINGTON DC
 
Attention: Fund Beneficiary
I wish to use this medium and my new office as the secretary of the state, Mr. John Kerry, to inform you that your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE Payment/Lotto winners prize of USD$10.5m (TEN Million Five hundred thousand Dollars) from CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA and there local banks has been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward transfer to you via an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw all the USD$10.5m in any ATM SERVICE MACHINE in any part of the world, but the maximum you can withdraw in a day is USD$10, 000 Only
 
 
The UNITED STATE OF AMERICA government has mandated CITI BANK OF NIGERIA, to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER with other relevant documents from our government and British government and the united nation, You are therefore advice to contact director and the Head of ATM CARD Department of CITI BANK OF NIGERIA for further instructions and to release your approved ATM CARD to you.
 
Contact Person: Mr,PHILIP EZE
CITI BANK OF NIGERIA
Phone number: +2348089350730
EMAIL: phillipeze@superposta.com
 
Tell Mr. PHILIP EZE that you received a message from the OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE to send you the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER AND ALL THE DOCUMENTS which you will use to withdraw your USD$10.5 Million Dollars, also send him your direct phone number and contact address where you want him to send the ATM CARD and PIN NUMBER to you BUT YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LITTLE INSURANCE AND SHIPMENT FEE FOR DELIVERY.
 
All the documents regards to the release of the fund has been handed over to Mr. PHILIP EZE for delivery.
 
I am very sorry for the delay you have gone through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and once again accept my congratulations in advance.
Best Regards.
MR. JOHN KERRY
YOUR NEW SECRETARY OF THE STATE

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