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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: "Dr. Benjamin Potter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officialmail2@emailn.de>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2018 09:56:46 +0100
Subject: VERY URGENT.

UNITED NATIONS
OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting.
Abuja Nigeria.
 
 
This is to inform you that after series of complaint from the FBI, and other Security agencies from Asia,Europe, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in this two nations.
 
Right now, as directed by the United Nations secretary General António Guterres, we are working in collaborations with the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and FBI, we have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorized the Government of Nigeria to effect your overdue payment worth $10,500,000.00 USD only into your account without further delay as approved and instructed by the Department of States and UNITED NATIONS. But we have find out that the only thing delaying your fund is the (INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER CODE) Upon your request for the code, I will tell you what it will cost you to get it.
 
 
You can as well send your payment information
 
 
(1) Your Valid Direct Tel/ Mobile/Fax Number.
(2) Your Full Name:
(3) Current Resident Address.
(4) Your Occupation:
(5) Your Age and Sex:
 
 
I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to receive your fund within the next 72 hours. Once again, the only thing delaying your fund is the (INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER CODE)
 
We need your maximum co-operation to effect your payment within 72 banking hours.
 
Urgent Compliance is to your advantage.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Dr. Benjamin Potter.
United Nations Under-Secretary-
General for Internal Oversight

Anti-fraud resources: