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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: "ofuani ofuani" <ofuani8@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ofuani_esq@gawab.com
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:27:53 +0000
Subject: RE:

Good day, I am Ofuani C.Ofuani,a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Engr.Thompson, a national of your country, who used to work with a telecomminication Company in NG. Africa . Herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 25th of December 2003, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a Plane clash in Cotonue. All occupants of the plane unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family or someone bearing the same surname with him, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in securing the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about USD$8.4 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next Thirty (30) Working official working days. I need your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Thanks and God bless.
 
Ofuani Esq.


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