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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: "DR CHARLES OBI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.charlesobigtbank14@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 04:27:36 -0500
Subject: RE: ATM Master Card Payment

GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC
PLOT 109 JERRY GANA CLOSE, VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS - NIGERIA.
TEL: (+234)903-8638151
 
 
                                        RE:  $10.5Million, ATM Master Card Payment
 
Dear Fund Beneficiary,
 
This is the 3rd time i am sending you this notification letter regarding to your abandoned ATM Master Card valued sum of US$10.5Million and i have not received any negative respond from you or making a suggestion on how you wish to receive your ATM Card. Once again.
 
I am Dr. Charles Obi ATM Head of Operation Department Guaranty Trust Bank Nigeria PLC, I resumed to this office on the 5th of last Month and during my official research last week I discovered an abandoned ATM Master card valued sum of $10.5Million with card number (5321452123409380) belonging to you as the rightfully intimate beneficiary.
 
I tried to know why this card has not been released to you but I was told by the GTBank management that the former director ATM head of operation who left this office four months ago withhold your card for his own personal use without knowing that his evil plans towards diverting your fund will be discovered.
 
Now that your ATM Master card is still available and ready for your receiving, I want to know how you wish to receive your ATM card along with your four digits pin code number.Therefore you can come down here to our bank to pick up your card direct from my office or alternatively it can be arranged ship to your address through any registered reliable courier service company that you will take care of the courier charge, hope it is cleared and accepted by you?
 
I don’t know the courier cost of shipping the card to you but if you permit me and accept the terms, then I can make an inquiry from the courier shipping company to find out the cost, but in that case you will be required to forward to me your address where you want to receive the card to enable me find out the shipping cost to your location.
 
Your direct telephone number and address will be needed and more details of your ATM card payment will be made known to you as soon as I receive your swift positive response, to enable you know the amount programmed for your ATM daily withdrawal.
 
Do not hesitate to call me on (+234)903-8638151 as soon as you read this mail.
 
Thanks for your co-operation.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
Dr. Charles Obi,
GTBank Management
TEL: (+234)903-8638151

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