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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: "J. KOKU" <fgarrickco@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2022 05:20:04 +0100
Subject: Seeking Opinion

Dear sir,

I am deeply sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please
forgive this unusual manner of contacting you. I suggest there must be
absolutely a great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this
email. There is no way for me to know whether I will be properly understood
but it is my duty to write and reach out to you as a person of
transparency, honesty and high caliber.

I am Mr. James Koku, Diamond Bank S.A. manager, Port Novo branch and was
also the Account Manager to my late client Mrs. Anna of same last name with
you, Who might or might not be related to you.

My late client, Mrs. Anna traveled down to China on the 28th of December
2019 on a five weeks business trip and after the successful transaction in
China, she flew back not knowing she had been infected with the deadly
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and she sadly passed away on March 20th 2020.

She left the sum of 3.5 Million (Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) in her account with us. She specifically confided in
me that "no one else knows about her funds in our bank" and further
revealed that the funds were for a particular project before she passed
away.

Currently here in our country's banking system, once any one passes away
and after one Year, if no relatives of the late customer doesn't come to
claim the funds/assets, it'll be recycled and reported to the Central Bank,
where the greedy government will then want to have their hands on the funds.

Since you bear the same surname, I seek your opinion to come up for the
claim, as the NEXT OF KIN. No one else knows about this fund in my bank
except me and no one will come up for the claim.

At the end of the successful transfer of the fund into your account, the
fund will be shared 50% each and our part will be held in your custody for
good profitable investment overseas depending on your area of
specialization.

I await your advice. Thank you.

Mr. James Koku.
Coordinator.
Diamond Bank S.A.
Port Novo
Benin Republic.
Tel: +229 56 38 52 07 (WhatsApp)

Anti-fraud resources: