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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: "Mr. Jacob Olivia Williams." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andrhadykidnadze@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2021 16:38:26 +0200
Subject: MR. JACOB OLIVIA WILLIAMS. BANK OF AMERICA CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE CENTER.

Good day.
 
Can I trust you? I need an assurance from you before I can release your funds to you.
 
Attached in this message is a Certified Bank Draft, Are you aware that the Bank of America Corona virus Resource Center Payment Department has approved your $980.000.00 being the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Bonus Interest of your US$19,800,000.00 (Nineteen Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) deposited on your behalf by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
 
Please confirm immediately if you received the attached Bank Draft?
 
I will be waiting for your urgent response.
Sincerely yours,
 
Mr. Jacob Olivia Williams.
Chief Auditor General.
Bank of America Coronavirus Resource Center.

Anti-fraud resources: