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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: "Mrs Mary Beth Leonard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <homes56q@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2024 00:50:45 -0800
Subject: ABOUT YOUR FUND ser

Attn; Fund Beneficiary
 
I am Mrs Mary Beth Leonard , Former U.S.A Ambassador to Nigeria. With reference to your entitlement fund and inline with the CHANGE OF BENEFICARY'S APPLICATION, signed by Mrs. Jessic May Anderson. with your purported authorization. This case has been carefully examined and we have declined Mrs. May's application and reported to the security department for appropriate action, as the application lacks regular signature. But Did you ever instruct Mrs. Jessic May Anderson to claim your fund worth US$10.000.000? Below is the bank account information provided by Mrs. Jessic May Anderson saying that you authorized her to claim your fund that you are terminally ill.
 
BANK NAME: Bank Of America
BANK ADDRESS: 20920 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, Ca 90024  USA
ACCOUNT #: 7054510110
ROUTING #: 842000233
Swift Code: BOFBIUS9S
Account Name: Jessic M Anderson
Beneficiary address: 9390 n. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills Ca 90210
 
If you had not authorized the change of your bank account in respect to your outstanding entitlement Payment, therefore notify me immediately as the notification / declaration was supported with a sworn affidavit from Lagos high court ref: ilk /jj/202/k2021, dated 02/01/2024 and signed by Mrs. Jessic M Anderson who claim and stated in the sworn declaration that you authorized her to claim the said fund on your behalf to a different bank account in the U.S.A as stated above because you were terminally ill and the Doctor who is incharge of your case stated that you will not stay more than one Month before passing away.
 
This development has caused lots of discrepancies in your payment file that is why we had to suspend your payment and prompted to contact you directly before rejuvenating your payment. You have to be rest assured that I will do everything within my capacity to successfully actualize the quick transfer of your fund to any of your nominated bank account.
 
Kindly get back to me as soon as possible so that I will direct you on what to do.
 
Sincerely Yours
Dr.Mrs Mary Beth Leonard
Fmr. U.S Ambassador

Anti-fraud resources: