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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: Patrick Johnson <poe_susan2@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: Patrick Johnson <patjohn212@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2014 07:06:53 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: PAY ATTENTION




 
Hello ,

I am Patrick Johnson, the only child and son of Mr.and Mrs.Alfred Johnson from Siarra Leone. My father was an industrialist before he was poisoned to death by his business associates.

I need your assistance because my late father deposited a VISA ATM  CARD that contains the sum of Two million United States Dollars ($2,000,000) in a bank  before his death. My late father wanted to use the money in the VISA ATM CARD in your country.
 
I need your assistance because I have contacted the bank to inquire  how the bank can send me the VISA ATM  CARD but the bank told me that the money in the VISA ATM  CARD was programmed to be withdrawn in your country only as per the instructions of my late father. This is why I contacted you to help me so that the bank can send you this VISA ATM  CARD that contains the Two million US Dollars so that you can help me to withdraw the money  that is in the VISA ATM  CARD in your country.

After you have withdrawn the money, I will come over to meet you in your country so that you can assist me to invest the money in your country.
 
If you can honestly assist me, I will give you 25% of the total amount at the end of the transaction. I want  you  to know that y once the bank sends you the VISA ATM  CARD that contains the money,I will send you the PIN CODE you will use to withdraw the money in the VISA ATM  CARD In any bank in your country without any problem.

Please  I want you to know that  there is no risk that is involved with this VISA ATM  CARD because it  belongs to my late Father. I have the photo of the VISA ATM  CARD and all the  documents that proves that the VISA ATM  CARD belongs to my late father  which I will send to you.
 
As soon I get your reply, I will give you the contact of the bank  for you to contact them  and the bank will  explain to you  how they will  send you the VISA ATM  CARD in your country.

Reply me urgently,

Best regards,
Patrick Johnson

Anti-fraud resources: