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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: "Diplomat Joe Collins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomatjoecolins@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2017 05:09:41 +0100
Subject: My successful arrival at JFK Airport USA. With your two boxes of consignment worth $15.5 Million Uni

Attn:
 
My Name is Diplomat Joe Collins. I have been trying to reach you on your House delivery address and your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival at JFK Airport USA. With your two boxes of consignment worth $15.5 Million United State Dollars which I have been instructed by the United Nation Zonal office in Nigeria to be delivered to you.
 
The Airport authority demanded your contact immediately, so Please try and reach me with my world wide diplomatic number (2348170894571) email me on dipllomatcolins@gmail.com as I can’t afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care.
 
I want you to know that you have 24 hours to call me on phone (+2348170894571) or email me on dipllomatcolins@gmail.com as you may know I do not want the security company where this Consignment is lodged to start raising an eye brow because of the length of time it has stayed. However, before the delivery is affected, we need you to reconfirm the following information so that the funds will not be
delivered to a wrong person.
 
1. Full Name
2. Residential Address
3. Direct Telephone Numbers
4. ID passport
5. Age/marital status
 
After verification of the information with what I have on file, I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be bringing your package to your residential address. Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
 
Regard.
 
Diplomat Joe Collins

Anti-fraud resources: