419 scam: Awaiting your response.

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From:
Reply-To: <stjidego@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject: Awaiting your response.

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Stephen Jidego, the regional bank manager of the International Commercal Bank Ghana Ltd. I have made a deep and careful findings and research before contacting you. And beleiving you can be the one to assist me on this transaction. Can I have your trust and confidence. I have packaged a financial transaction that would benefit I and you, it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each year, and on the course of last year 2009 end of year report.

I discovered that my branch made an excess profit of Five Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($5,200,000.00) which my head office is not aware of. I have since placed this funds on what we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any beneficiary. As an officer of the bank I can not be directly, connected to this funds, this is why I need you to assist me and receive this funds into your bank account for us to SHARE.

I will offer you 20% of the total amount for your assistance. Note that there are practically no risks involved in this transaction,it will be bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to stand and claim as the original depositor of this money who made the deposit with Kaneshie branch so that my Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.

My request of you as a foreigner is necessary to apply for the claim and release of the abandoned SUSPENSE ACCOUNT as the orginal beneficiary of this said funds, and I have enough information for the success to claim this funds, all I need is your co-operation and trust, I will guide you on how to go about this. I assure you we can achieve it successfully.

Thanks I expect your urgent communication.

Best Regards,
Mr. Stephen Jidego

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam