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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: "Mrs Linda Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion597@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2018 06:21:55 -0800
Subject: This is to inform you that $5000 has been sent to you

This is to inform you that $5000 has been sent to you via western union kindly contact the manager on this information for the due processes.

Contact Mr. James Hill
via E-mail: westernunion597@gmail.com


The IMF commission who set up this payment programmer is now waiting for confirmation so hasten up and give the agent a call to process your funds at once. Please do not forget to update me as soon as you receive this first payment.

Your Full name,
home Address,
telephone number
Your country and city
Your occupation.

Once again congratulations.

Thanks,
Mrs Linda Cole

Anti-fraud resources: