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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: "MR. HASSAN AHMED BELLO." (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:33:37 +0100
Subject: THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUND.

ATTENTION MY GOOD FRIEND,


MY NAME IS MR. HASSAN AHMED BELLO OF TELEX/COMPUTER DEPARTMENT OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN). I AM SENDING THIS PRIVATE EMAIL BASED ON THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TRANSACTION. PLEASE, I WILL LIKE TO ADVISE IF AFTER GOING THROUGH MY PROPOSAL AND YOU DO NOT ACCEPT IT, KINDLY KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.


AS OF THIS MOMENT, I AM STILL IN SERVICE WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) AND I WILL NOT BY ANY MEANS LIKE TO LOOSE MY JOB IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED AS I HAVE PUT IN OVER 23 YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THIS HONOURABLE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.


I FOUND OUT THAT YOU ALMOST HAVE MET ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AS REGARDS YOUR FUNDS. PLEASE BE EQUALLY ADVISED THAT NO SECURITY COMPANY NOR BANK IN AFRICA CAN HANDLE YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT/INHERITANCE FUND WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE APEX BANK (CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA), YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT OF INTEREST GROUP IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) THAT SUPPOSED TO TRANSFER YOUR FUND.


A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR PAYMENT AND THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU RECEIVE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE EVERYDAY, THEIR WHOLE PLAN IS TO FRUSTRATE YOU IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ABANDON THE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND THEN, THEY WILL BE COMFORTABLE AND FREE ENOUGH TO TRANSFER THE CONTRACT FUNDS INTO THEIR OVERSEAS ACCOUNT. THEIR AIM AND TARGET IS NOT THE MONEY YOU ARE GIVING THEM BUT TO FRUSTRATE YOU, HENCE, YOU HAVE LOST TRUST ON WHOM TO BELIEVE TO BE GENUINE.


I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS MAY LAST FOR YEARS, YET NOTHING HAPPENS TO SUM IT UP. BUT TODAY, I WISH TO ASSURE YOU THAT WITH MY POSITION HERE IN THE TELEX DEPARTMENT, I CAN TRANSFER YOUR FUND WITHOUT WASTING TIME, I CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS UNDER FIVE WORKING DAYS, BUT WE HAVE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT.


FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE YOU WILL GIVE ME AT THE CONSUMMATION OF THIS DEAL.


SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO CEASE FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL THOSE PARTIES YOU HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH TO AVOID COMPLICATIONS.


FINALLY, YOU WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL TO ENABLE ME PERFORM ADEQUATELY.


IF YOU ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL, KINDLY GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER SO THAT I CAN FURNISH YOU THE MORE IN RESPECT OF YOUR FUND.


REGARDS,
MR. HASSAN AHMED BELLO.

Anti-fraud resources: