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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. Johannes Hendricks(CitiBank)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jfit.bhdricks@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 5 May 2017 14:46:01 +0430
Subject: CITIBANK INSTRUCTED US TO REACH YOU (THIS IS YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION)

 
Dear Relative,
 
Your name and email was found in deceased account file in Citibank N.A Ghana, while we confirmed the Late Customer (ENGR. JACK FARRAR POWELL) before he died he  made you next of kin to his account, which stated upon demised, you shall inherit account balance, the deceased already paid for all expense, that covered the release of this Inheritance funds to your favor.
The Citibank N.A Ghana has giving me five (5) working days to invite the deceased next of kin for payment, since I was deceased account officer, otherwise Citibank will confiscate this total sum US$58.5M (Fifty Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) which deceased left in your name as abandoned funds, under instruction from Ghanaian Parliament.
Although, several official letters were sent to your address through the Citibank Headquarter, since no response from you, the bank instructed me to reach you privately on this same Email address, which deceased indicated to reach his relative/next of kin.
I withheld Deceased information, until your response to my mail with information below, confirming you are the same Person/Business Partner, whose name and contacts appeared in deceased account file for immediate payment.
1)     Your Full Name.
2)     Your Telephone, Mobile, Office & Home Number.
3)     The Copy of Your ID Card (Passport or Driver’s License) for identification.
The Citibank has instructed Ministry of finance Ghana to release above funds to you upon your response confirming the same name which deceased mentioned in your International Passport/Driver License to avoid wrong payment.
I shall represent you, during the process of your payment, since I was the deceased account officer, so shall give you all information, including deceased documents which Citibank/ Parliament of Ghana shall request for your identification to release above funds to you.
Kindly contact me through my alternative email (jfit.bhdricks@qq.com)
Regards,
Mr. Johannes Hendricks,
(Retired Banker) I am South African Citizen, and I was Account Officer to ENGR. POWELL for 9years before he died.
 

Anti-fraud resources: