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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 William <m1960111@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 09:48:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello Dear, how are you doing? I'm William

Hello Dear, how are you doing? I'm William Nicolas by name. 44yrs old, Height 5ft. 6in. Body Type Average Hair Color Light Brown Eye Color Blue...Live in Riverside California. An Appraiser. I know this maybe a surprise to you but understand that i found your contact information on the internet when i was searching for a trustworthy and God fearing person who could assist me in this profitable venture. My Father was a German while my mom was from California..I had to leave for Germany last week, because my uncles sued me and my younger sister to court over my Father's inheritance. I appeared at the court last week Friday with my younger sister who is schooling in London UK. This problem with my uncles has been going on since after my parents passed, but i can see now that my uncles really mean business to take what rightfully belongs to us.

I would have preferred doing this myself when i get back to the States but due to it's urgency i can't wait...There is an emergency here. Regarding the meeting with my younger sister after the court, we agreed that the $14.7 million deposited with a Security Company in Switzerland, by my passed parents, should be moved out of Switzerland with immediate effect before my uncles gets to know about it because my uncles have connived and collaborated with my passed father's lawyer in Germany to confiscate all my father's properties in Germany, as the lawyer testified against me and my sister at the court that there was no ( Will ) wrote by my passed father over his inheritance.

Please i want you to keep this as a top secret as my uncles are ready to influence anyone with money who discloses any confidentiality about my father's inheritance in Switzerland. My uncles even threatened me and my sister at the court. It's obvious that the have influenced the lawyer with so much money to work against me and my sister. Please note that i and my sister really needs your urgent response over this if you could receive the money, ( 25% of the total sum of $14.7million is for you). Hope to hear from your soon. William

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