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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: " William Johnson" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 10 May 2017 17:35:38 +0100
Subject: New Director,Foreign Debt Settlement Department

From Mr. William Johnson
New Director,Foreign Debt Settlement Department
Federal Republic Of Nigeria

Sir,

This is to inform you that I have been mandated to contact you for owed payment with our Government after my appointment as the new director for Foreign Debt settlement Department, Finance Ministry Of Federal Republic of Nigeria. An approved sum of US$10.5 Million has been directed to be released to your account but action is on your payment file following a change of account application filled in our office by your attorney barrister Isa Williams of WILLIAMS CHAMBERS, THIS ACCOUNT CHANGE DID NOT COME WITH VALID POWER OF ATTORNEY, so I decided contacting you for proper confirmation on the new account as stated below:

NAME OF BANK: CITY STATE SAVINGS BANK
BRANCH: LIBERTAD BRANCH MANILA PHILIPPINES.
ACCOUNT NO.: 009-11-000609-7
.A/C NAME: MONAHAN ROBERT

If there is no SWIFT reaction from you within the next 72hours, I will have no other choice than to transfer your funds into your new account as stated above with an assumption that you are aware of your new account as submitted by your attorney. Contact me on receipt of this message.

Best regards

Mr. William Johnson
New Director,Foreign Debt Settlement Department
Federal Republic Of Nigeria

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