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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: "World Bank Compensation Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patrickelvis171@yahoo.es>
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 22:23:59 -0700
Subject: RE-CONFIRM CHANGE OF ACCOUNT.

 
UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION AWARD 2016 APPROVED YOUR PAYMENT.
UNITED NATIONS ASSISTED PROGRAM
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
TRANSFER/AUDIT UNIT
Our Ref: WB/NF/JPP/UN/XX-321/02016.
 
 
Attention : Sir/Madam .
 
I would like to let it be known that in a meeting held by the United Nations in Affiliation with the World Bank Organization and the U.S States Government, it has been agreed that a compensation of USD$7.5 Million has been approved in your name. This
Compensation program was organized to compensate all the people who have in time past had unfinished transaction and those that has been scammed in any part of the world,  Natural Disasters and war disasters. This compensation scheme was set up under the United Nations Project for unsettled debts and scam victims rehabilitation scheme.
 
Your E-mail Address was drawn automatically web directory through an E-mail ballot machine, that is why this mail was sent to you and you are qualified to receive the above mentioned compensation payment.
 
A Bank Draft RefNo: 972 7742 431 002626 has been allocated to you which will be credited with your payment of US$7.5 Million Dollars which will be delivered to you in person at your place of residence.
 
You are hereby advised to contact Bank Manager of Zenith Bank Plc in the name of Dr.Charles Launah at the address below for your payment :
 
Contact Person : Dr.charles Leunah.
Bank Name : Zenith Bank Plc
Email: drcharlesleunah17@outlook.com
 
 
You are also instructed to forward the following information below to the above Bank for complete processing and delivery of your Bank Draft/Atm Card to you.
 
1. Your Full Name :
2. Your Home/Mobile Telephone No:
3. Your Home or Office Address :
4. Age/Occupation/Marital Status:
5. Country OF ORIGIN:
 
You are advised to contact the Zenith at the address above, and have your information listed above forwarded to them with 72 hrs you receive this message to avoid cancellation of your payment.
 
Thanks for your patience, and do contact us in the near future when you have successfully received your payment.
 
Best Regard,
 
Ms. Valerie Amos.

Anti-fraud resources: