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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MR MENSAH" <model_allnations@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: treasury-bill@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 19:40:45 -0800
Subject: YOUR RESPONSE.

I AM A SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE BANK OF GHANA, THERE IS PAYMENT DUE SOME CONTRACTOR FOR THE SUPPLYING OF ELECTIONEERING MATEIALS FOR THE JUST CONCLUDED VOTERS REGISTRATION EXERCISE, THE CONTRACT WAS OVER VALUED AND THERE ARE SOME FICTITIOUS CLAIMS, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE CONTRACTOR WHO WAS SUPOSED TO A FOREIGN COMPANY, SO WHAT I NEED NOW IS SOMEONE WHO CAN CLAIM THI OVER INVOICE AND FICTITIOUS CLAAIM. THE TOTAL AMOUNT INVULVED IS $4.8USD (FOUR MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS). WE SHAL GIVE YOU 20% FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ANOTHER 10% FOR ANY EXPENSIS INCURED.
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
THANKS.
MR.KOFI MENSAH.
BANK OF GHANA.



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