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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: philip acqua <mr.philipacqua2001@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:59:13 +0000
Subject: =?UTF-8?B?QlVTSU5FU1MgT0ZGRVIu4oCP?=

Mr. Mahama Acqua
Bank of Ghana
Accra-Ghana

Sir,
I should appreciate your surprise while receiving this letter. In any case,
I am left with no option but to contact you in this manner. My decision to
write to you was informed by knowledge that being established personally
that you could be disposed to be part of this. If you don't want this
business offer kindly forget it as I will not contact you again .
I am Mr. Mahama Acqua Director Cargo Department, The Bank of Ghana.Accra
Ghana.

During the airlift of some presidential luggage to Europe I and my
colleagues in the above department unanimously decided to include
additional luggage containing US$8m (Eight Million United States Dollars)
only for our own benefit though it was labeled "Photographic Equipment" for
security reasons. I am obliged to contact you to assist us on getting the
luggage cleared from the agent and delivered to you. As we have agreed on
the following terms.

(1) All relevant documents to claim the luggage will be procure in your
name to enable the agent deliver the luggage to your mailing address.
(2) You will be entitled to a share of 30% of the total amount.
(3)70% of the total amount will be for my colleagues and I.

If this business terms and conditions are ok by you, kindly contact me on
this mail address, also, furnish me with your full names, mailing address
and your personal telephone / fax numbers, for easier communication for
immediate forwarding to the agent in Europe.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Mahama Acqua

Anti-fraud resources: