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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: "Mrs Cecile Diaz" <Spieladresse1989@gmx.de>
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2017 09:20:06 +0100
Subject: Greetings

Greetings to you.
 
I am writing this mail to you with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow in my heart. I am a widow of 63 years old, suffering from long time Cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors. I have some funds I inherited from my late loving husband Mr. Diaz, the sum of ($3.500.000,00) which he deposited in a Bank, I need a very honest and God fearing person that can use these funds for Charity work, helping the Less Privileges, and 50% of this money will be for your time and effort, while 50% goes to charities. I look forward to your prompt reply.
 
Yours sincerely
Mrs. Cecile Diaz

Anti-fraud resources: