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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: Prosperity Ovoke <w71263322@gmail.com>
Reply-To: prosperov523@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:31:04 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I decided to seek your help

Hello my friend,

Compliment of the day, I hope you're fine! I never want to disturb you but I will appreciate it if you give me your time because I know this message will come to you as a surprise since we haven't known or come across each other before considering the fact that I sourced your contact in search of a trusted person who can assist me.

I am Miss Prosperity Ovoke, 19 years old female from the Republic of Ivory Coast,West Africa ,am the Daughter of Late Chief Sgt.Abraham Ovoke. My late father was a well known Ivory Coast militia leader . He died on Thursday 28 April 2011 following a fight with the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast(FRCI). I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my step mother.

She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father, Meanwhile I wanted to travel to Europe, but she hid my international passport and other valuable documents. Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father's File which contained important documents, I am presently staying in A mission refugee camp in a nearby country called Burkina Faso through the help of the united Nations,

I am seeking a long term friendship and investment assistance, My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$6.5 Million (Six million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) with my name as the next of kin. I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told me that being a refugee, my status according to the local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation. However, he advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my behalf. I had wanted to inform my stepmother about this deposit but I am afraid that she will not offer me anything after the release of the money.

I decided to seek your help in transferring the money into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle down with you. As you indicated your interest to help me I will give you the account number and the contact of the bank where my late beloved father deposited the money with my name as the next of kin. It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your assistance and the balance shall be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as I have no any idea about foreign investment.

Thanking you a lot in anticipation of your quick response. I will give you details in my next mail after receiving your acceptance mail to help me ,

Yours sincerely
Miss Prosperity Ovoke.

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