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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: Edward Effah <info.19855577@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 20:48:23 -0500
Subject: Hello


Good day Partner,

I’m Edward Effah, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Ghana. Recently
I, discovered a Dormant Account with a huge amount of Money Valued
USD5,960,000.00 (Five Million Nine Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States
Dollars only) that belongs to one of our late Customer who died in a plane
crash few year ago.

During the period of our Investigation we discovered that the deceased died
along with his family, leaving behind no Will and nobody to come for the
claim as his next of kin. The Banking law here stipulates that if such
money remains unclaimed for eight years, it will be forfeited to the Bank's
Treasury as an unclaimed bill. It is only a foreigner that can stand as a
next of kin.

It is upon this discovery that I decided to contact you to collaborate with
you to pull out this dormant fund. I have it in mind to use 7% of the fund
for Expenses during the transfer, and another 45% of the money to you while
the balance of the 48% will be mine, this a spirit open and honest
business, if this proposal meets your interest. What I want from you is for
you to act as the deceased next of kin. I have in my possession, all the
necessary Documents to successfully accomplish the operation.

Further Information will be given to you as soon as I receive your positive
response.

Best Regards.
Mr. Edward Effah.

Anti-fraud resources: