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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: "BARRY KWAME" <barrykwame1@rediffmail.com>
Date: 8 Feb 2007 10:16:15 -0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY


MR Barry KwameManager International Commercial&nbsp;Bank of GhanaFirst-light kaneshieBranch Ghana.
Attn: sir/Madam
My name is Mr Barry Kwame I am the Kaneshie branchmanager of the Internationald Commercail Bank of Ghana.I got your information during my search through theInternet. It may interest you to hear that I am aman of PEACE and don\'t want problem, I only hope wecan assist each other. If you don\'t want this businessoffer kindly forget it as I will not contact youagain.
I have packaged a financial transaction that willbenefit both of us, as the regional manager of theGhana international Commercial Bankof Ghana ; it is my duty to sendin a financial report to my head office in the capitalcity Accra at the end of each year. On the course ofthe this year 2006 end of year report, I discoveredthat my branch in which I am the manager made Eightmillion seven hundred fifty thousand dollars[8,750.000.00] which my head office are not aware ofand will never be aware of. I have since place thisfund on what we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without anybeneficiary.
As an officer of the bank I can not be directlyconnected to this money, so this informed mycontacting you for us to work so that you can assistreceive this money into your bank account for us toSHARE. While you will have 30% of the total fund .Notethere are practically no risk involved, it will bebank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to standclaim as the original depositor of this fund who madethe deposit with our branch so that our Head officecanorder the transfer to your designated bank account. Ifyou accept this offer to work with me, I willappreciate it very much. As soon as I receive yourresponse I will details you on how we can achieve itsuccessfully.kindly send meyou phone number and faxBest regardsMr Barry Kwame

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