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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: "Cliff" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2018 06:00:08 -0800
Subject: Re: VERY URGENT DEAR NEW FRIEND.

DEAR NEW FRIEND
RE: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CONFIDENTIAL

I CONTACT YOU ON MY PRESUMED RELIANCE, AFTER GOING THROUGH A BRIEF PROFILE OF YOURS AND FOUND OUT YOU CAN BE TRUSTED, AND I BELIEVED WE CAN MAKE IT BIG WHEREBY YOU GIVE US YOUR WORD THAT AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION YOU WILL NOT BETRAY US BY BEING CREED,FIRST OF ALL I'LL LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND STATUS.

I AM WORKING AS A CUSTOMS SUPERINTENDENT OFFICER ATTACHE TO THE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IT WAS MORE LIKE A DREAM WHEN TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES INTERCEPTED (3)- METALLIC TRUNK BOXES AT OUR DUTY POST IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE OUT VALUABLES BOXES SUSPECTED TO BE PRECIOUS METALS AND HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY OUTSIDE OUR COUNTRY(GHANA).

SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OWNERS OBVIOUSLY STAND NO CHANCE OF DEFENDING THE SOURCE OF THE CONTENT OF THESE BOXES AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY ESCAPED ARREST AND THEY ARE NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.

AFTER DUE INVESTIGATIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS, WE HAVE EARLIER DECIDED NOT TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE THIS INTERCEPTION FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. TO KNOW THE CONTENT OF THESE BOXES, I PERSONALLY SCANNED THE THREE (3) BOXES AND FOUND OUT THE CONTENTS ARE GOLD AND RAW CASH IN MILLIONS OF UNITED STATES 100 DOLLAR BILLS AND I WILL LIKE US TO DISCUSS ON HOW TO MOVE THE CONTENTS TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR US TO SHARE THE CONTENT AMONG US INVOLVED ON THE BASIS THAT AM DUE FOR RETIREMENT AND READY TO GO INTO PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT WITH YOU ONCE I RESIGN FROM OFFICE.

WE URGENTLY NEED AN INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AS TO ENABLE US TRANSFER THESE BOXES AND SELL THE GOLD IN QUESTION THERE IN ABROAD THROUGH YOUR CONNECTION.
..
THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COOPERATION.
CSP.MARTINS CLIFFORD.

Anti-fraud resources: