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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: "Dr. Wilson Kweku" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john_kwaku09@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 19:29:07 -0000
Subject: I am Dr. Wilson Kweku.

FROM THE DESK OF DR. WILSON KWEKU
DIRECTOR OF PROJECT
MMNR, ACCRA GHANA


Good day,

I am Dr. Wilson Kweku, Managing Director of Department of Mineral and Energy in Accra Ghana.

I am making this contact based on my Department needs an individual/company who can help us with the transfer of a contract entitlement.

This amount (US$14.5M) represents the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm. This amount we have gotten approval to transfer abroad to any foreign bank account.

This transaction is 100% safe and legal in all areas, we are only handicapped in the circumstances, as the Ghana Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance in the whole transaction.

Your share as compensation in the US$14.5M will be 30%; I and my colleague 70%.

We have reposed our confidences in you and hope that you will not disappoint us. Kindly send me your direct telephone/mobile number to enable me reach you with further details upon your acceptance to help us.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Best regards,

Dr. Wilson Kweku

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