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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. Tony Abua" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tony20abua@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 13:02:02 -0700
Subject: Very urgent response please


Hello Friend,

My name is Tony Abua I am the regional manager of International commercial bank ltd (ICB) tama branch in the great Accra region of Ghana. I got your information on a recent bank conference with other West African countries held in Lome the capital city of Togo in West Africa. I write you this proposal in good faith; I am 44 years old married with two lovely kids. I am a devoted Christian and a man of peace.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, as the regional manager of the International commercial bank ltd (ICB) it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each business year. On the course of the last year 2008 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made save million five hundred twenty united state dollars ($7.520) used which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call escrow call account with no beneficiary.

As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds as commission.

There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.

Remember there is no risk involved i promise.

Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.
Your urgent reply is needed


Tony Abua

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