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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: =?UTF-8?B?2KfZhNiz2YrYryDYudmF2LEg2KjYp9mD2YrYstmK2Ycg?= <captlucas1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2022 03:55:07 -0700
Subject: Attention SIR/MADAM.

Attention SIR/MADAM.

Good day to you.

However, don’t be surprised to receive this email from me hence i do
not know you in Person, but my spirit directs me to solicit for your
kind corporation to this deal hence i contacted you.

Subsequently, note that i got your email contacts during my search on
the Togolese Journal Online record list file, and decided to ask for
your corporation after going through your managerial and
administrative ideologies which really got my attention, from all
indications you are very sincere person.

I know this Letter will come to you as surprise, though I do not
intend to embarrass you. Please do accept my apologies I do not wish
to invade into your privacy, I had written an earlier mail to you but
without response, In my first mail I mentioned to you about my late
client, a foreigner, who died since 2017, Since his death I have
received several letters from the Bank where he made a deposit of
12,500,000.00 USD (Twelve Million Five Hundred thousand US Dollars) in
the event of his death.

The bank has asked me to provide his next of kin or any of his
relatives who can make claim to his funds or it will be confiscated by
the bank, as I could not locate any of his relative hence i contacted
you for this claim. Upon your response I will give you the details and
procedures of the transaction.

Waiting for your reply.

Best Regards,
Mr. Martin Adams. Esq,
Adams & Associates Chambers

Anti-fraud resources: