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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "African Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.thomasboni@yahoo.com.uk>
Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 08:39:11 -0700
Subject: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION (YOUR PAYMENT)=.

Hello Dear,
 
We are pleased to inform you that at the just ended 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, 29-01-2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which was just concluded and I the president of the AU had mandated our Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs to find the reasons why people find it difficult to receive their funds from Africa.
 
And with the report we received from the Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs was that all the major problem that our beneficiaries are having is from Nigeria, base on the report, I the AU President his Excellency the president of Benin Republic Mr. Thomas Yayi Boni has instructed that all African countries should compile  the names of the beneficiaries in their country that have not received their Fund and submit them to my office to enable us handle the payment release of all the listed  creditors through our office in Ghana.
 
So therefore we all have agreed to fight corruption and insure peace and security in the whole of Africa, and after much deliberations,it was agreed by all member nations that since the people who always have problems with the release of their funds were those  whose funds are in Nigeria and since the chairmanship of the African Union for the year 2012 has been given to the west African country, I the head of state and Government of the AU endorsed that one of the ECOWAS country (Ghana) must take over the payment of the approved listed creditors which your name appears on the list.
 
As soon as I receive your respond, I will instruct our office in Ghana to process your new release document and recall your fund anywhere it is and pay you through a diplomatic means to your door-step.
 
Note that you are instructed to stop every dealings you have with any office or person regarding your fund and stop sending money to those crooks all over the world, because you will not receive a cent out of your total fund from any office or person (s) here in africa if you refuse to follow this new development.kindly follow my direction and you will receive your payment within 48hours.
 
Thanks for your understanding and get back to me immediately you receive this email or you can email our payment office in Ghana on : dr.amaraessy@yahoo.es or call directely on +233246359725 and speak with Dr. Amara Essy for more detail.
 
Best regards.
 
Mr. Thomas Yayi Boni
His Excellency the president of Benin Republic and
Chairman of the African Union
thomasau2012@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources: