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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: barrkoffi willies <barrkoffiwillies@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2017 10:54:09 -0700
Subject: good

My Dear,

My name is koffi willies, A solicitor at law. I am writing to you, for
you to stand as a next of kin to my late client who bears the same
last name with you. He was a contractor in Togo and he deposited the
sum of us$15.5 MILLION with a bank here in Togo . He died in fatal car
accident with his wife and only child, I have sought for his relatives
and could not locate them. The bank where he deposited the funds have
given me automatism to present his next of kin to claim his fund else
the funds will be confiscated, hence I contacted you since you have
the same last name with him. If you are willing to carry out the
transfer , i will send you a comprehensive details email for more
understanding.

Best Regards
koffi willies Esq

Anti-fraud resources: