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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: charles bowenge <charlesbowenge@k.ro>
Reply-To: charlesbowenge@mail.com
Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2006 21:36:02 +0100
Subject: Awaiting Your Response.


Africa Development Bank
Pretoria
South Africa.
Confidential Tel/Fax :+27 11 50 76 771

Dear Sir,  

My name is Mr. Charles Bowenge. I work as a senior investment consultant for the South Africa Reserve Bank. I also work as part of the regional team that covers the entire Africa region. I had taken pains to find your contact through personal endeavours.
 
Approximately five years ago, an investor (Mr. Robert Dobbson – Deceased nine months ago) invested a total of US$10.5M (Ten Million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars) with my department. With interest at today’s value, the said invested fund is now worth a little under US$16.5M (Sixteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State dollars).
Late Robert Dobbson’s Attorney/Lawyer notified my department of the sudden death (Car Accident) of Mr. Robert Dobbson. He (the attorney) also expresses concern that Robert had died without a will and he has no details of any surviving relatives. The lawyer has now requested my department to check our records to clarify who Late Robert Dobbson may have named as his next of Kin on the investment application. Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, the person named as next of kin, was his girl friend who also died in the car accident. I have not yet notified the lawyer that the next of Kin was the girl friend. I virtually have another seven working days to do so.
Should I notify the lawyer of my findings, automatically, the invested funds will be confiscated by the South African Government? This I do not mind, my concerns and worries is that the funds once released from our bank, it will be diverted else where by senior South Africa government functionaries for their personal gains. On the basis of my worries, my immediate boss and I decided to act fast by contacting and inviting you to work with us posing as a relative of the deceased, since you share same last name as the late investor. With our insider’s privileged information, the funds can be paid to you as the only surviving relative. We have all the information and guidance to enable you and we realize this opportunity. We have evaluated the risk analysis and we are convinced that the risk element is ZERO, as long as you maintain 100% confidentiality.
As you should understand, I am taking a great risk contacting you and making this proposal. Therefore, you should understand why I must say no more about this transaction until I receive a call, email or fax from you confirming receipt of this letter.
Once secured communication has been established between you and us, detailed clarifications will be dealt with, such as what each party stand to benefit and time scale and procedures. Time is not in our favour. Please establish secured communication with me through fax or my email.

Yours truly
Mr.Charles Bowenge.

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