419 scam: DEAR SIR/MADAM

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mr_lawrencenewton@mail2world.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From:
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:42:08 +0100
Subject: DEAR SIR/MADAM

My name is Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante.
I am the Regional Manager of commercial Bank of Ghana,[G.C.B] Accra branch Ghana.
I write you this proposal in good faith; I am a man of peace, and have sincere respect
for human feelings and opinions. I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit
you and I. As the Regional Manager of Ghana Commercial Bank [G.C.B] it is my duty to send
in financial report to my head office in the capital city, Accra at the end of each business
year. On the course of last year, 2008 business report, I discovered that the branch in which
I am the Manager made 6.550 Million United States Dollars ($6,550,000.00) which my head office
is not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call Escrow
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 40% of the total funds as commission. There are practically no risks involved, the transaction
will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law,
it will be simply a bank to bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original
depositor of these funds with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your
designated bank account under few working days. If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it
very much. My email is(mr_lawrencenewton@mail2world.com). I wait for your reply.
Sincerely,
Mr. Lawrence Newton Adu-Mante
Ghana Commercial Bank [G.C.B]
Accra, Ghana

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam