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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 Peter Kwame" <peterkwame8346@walla.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 14:56:55 +0000
Subject: waiting for your opinion

Dear Friend.

My name is Mr. Peter Kwame.I am the Eastern region branch manager of the
Barclays Bank of Ghana ltd, in West Africa.I am a Christian. I do not want
problems but I just
hope you can assist me. I write you this letter in good faith.

I am in control of the sum of three million, eight hundred and fifty
thousand US dollars ($3,850,000.00) which was an excess of profit made by our
Eastern region branch office in the last quarter of the year 2003, which I have

carefully placed in an Escrow Call Deposit Account and did not declare
this to my head office, Can I really trust you to hold this money for me until
I arrive your country and pick it up myself and you deduct 30% of the
total money as your commission?

All I need is for you to get me a good current account in your bank
where I can move this money I will discreetly give you all the information
concerning the account and the deposit so that you can apply to the bank for the

release of the money. There is practically no risk involved; it will be simple
bank-to-bank transfer. I hope you understand my situation.

Take my word.

Thank you and God bless.

Yours truly,
Mr Peter Kwame.


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