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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: "ECOBANK GHANA LTD" <ecobank_ghltd@katamail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: ecobank_ghltd@go.com
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 15:30:02 +0100
Subject: RE: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF USD$3. 2M INTEREST

ECO BANK GHANA LTD
19, SEVENTH AVE RIGDE (WEST)
ACCRA-GHANA
TELEX: ECOBNKGH
TEL: 233-243-536226
FAX: 233-27-513333
EMAIL: ecobank_ghltd@go.com

ATTN: HON. BENEFICIARY,

RE: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF USD$3. 2M INTEREST

Sir,

Sometime ago, in our bank your contract money was brought to our bank from Economic Community of West African States Foreign Contractors Payment Panel (Ecowas, F.C.P.P), AND AFTER SOME PERIOD, They call the funds bank to their treasury in World Bank. For the period of time this money was in our bank, it generated an interest of US$3.2 Million, which we considered your suffering as one of the West African Countries contractor that have not received his/her payment and we decide to pay you this interest fund via Swift Transfer into your account.

What we need from you now is any form of your identification for example; your international passport number or you’re driving license number, then your telephone and fax number for easy communication.

In view of this you are hereby instructed to contact this office immediately you receive this message and reconfirm your bank particulars.

Expecting your immediate response.

MR. BENARD TAY
TREASURY BILL DPT
ECO BANK GHANA LTD
TEL: 233-243-536226
FAX: 233-27-513333


Anti-fraud resources: