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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: "JAMES B. COMEY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wdcfbidirectorjamescomeyjr@cyberservices.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2013 06:47:08 -0000
Subject: Re :..Official Payment Notice Read The Attached Message For Details!

 
Re: Funds Release Notification
 
Records show that you are among one of the individuals and organizations who are yet to receive their overdue payment from overseas which includes those of Lottery/Gambling, Contract and Inheritance.
 
READ THE ATTACHED MESSAGE FILE AND FOLLOW  THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU TO RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS WITHIN 48 HOURS.
 
THANKS
 
JAMES B. COMEY,
DIRECTOR: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
 
 

Anti-fraud resources: