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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: James Arthur <jamesarthurmusiclover@gmail.com>
Reply-To: EltonStewart147@proton.me
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2022 22:28:17 +0100
Subject: Attn: Inheritance Claim.

I’m Elton, the legal counsel to the late Brad Hilander. I'm writing to
you regarding a total sum of $4,700,000 which my client left in his
Belgium bank before he passed on.

I seek your consent to present you to the bank as the next of kin to
my late client. Claim; seeing that both of you bear the same surname,
the attempt to reach his immediate family remains futile and my
proposal is calling for an immediate audience.

I assure you this proposal comes with a huge benefit. Below is my
contact, please kindly write to me for the full details of this
proposal.

Thanks', please treat it as urgent and keep it confidential.

Best Regards,
Elton Stewart
Attorney at law.

Anti-fraud resources: