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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. STEPHEN OWUSU." <stephenowusu@zipmail.com.br> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 16:40:34 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS PARTNER.


FROM: MR. STEPHEN OWUSU.

GREETINGS TO YOU.

I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, HONEST AND A TRUST
WORTHY PERSON TO ENTRUST THIS HUGE TRANSFER PROJECT WITH.

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

I AM WRITING TO SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OF
US$2,550.000.00. THIS FUND IS THE EXCESS OF WHAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I
AM THE MANGER MADE AS PROFIT DURING THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE ALREADY
SUBMITTED AN APPROVED END OF THE YEAR REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2004 TO MY HEAD OFFICE
HERE IN ACCRA AND THEY WILL NEVER KNOW OF THIS EXCESS. I HAVE SINCE
THEN,PLACED THIS AMOUNT OF US$2,550.000.00 ON A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT WITHOUT
ABENEFICIARY.


AS AN OFFICER OF THE BANK, I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY
THUS I AM IMPELLED TO REQUES T FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY
INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. I INTEND TO PART 30% OF THIS FUND TO YOU WHILE 70%
SHALL BE FOR ME. I DO NEED TO STRESS THAT THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK I
NVOLVED IN THIS. IT'S GOING TO BE A BANK-TO-BANK TRANSFER.

ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF
THIS FUND.

IF YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER, I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE.
PLEASE RESPONSE TO THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS: stephen_owusu@123mail.cl

WITH REGARDS,

MR. STEPHEN OWUSU.


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