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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "MR STEPHEN OWUSU." <stephen_t54@mighty.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:38:20 +0000
Subject: CRY FOR HELP.

FROM: MR.STEPHEN OWUSU.
THE MANAGER INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA
FIRST LIGHT BRANCH
ACCRA, GHANA.


MY NAME IS MR. STEPHEN OWUSU. I AM THE MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA, FIRST LIGHT BRANCH. I AM A GHANAIAN MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS.

WE HAVE A WILL IN YOUR NAME AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THROUGH TO YOU OR THE LAWYER WHO WROTE THE WILL FOR YOUR LATE UNCLE EVER SINCE YOUR UNCLE DIED EVERYTHING WE DO TO LOCATE HIM WAS IN VAIN.

HE WILLED HIS LIFE TIME DEPOSIT, WHICH HE HAS, ON A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT IN MY BRANCH OFFICE ($2,550,000 USD).

WE WANT YOU TO SEND TO US IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER YOUR UNCLE'S FUNDS AND THE ESTATE TO YOUR ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE BANK TO BANK TRANSFER.

1) YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS

2) YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

YOU ARE TO SEND THIS VIA MY PERSONAL EMAIL (stephen_t54@yahoo.com)


RESPECTFULLY,

MR STEPHEN OWUSU.


Anti-fraud resources: