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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: ALEXANDER ADDO <alex-real-addo@live.com>
Reply-To: <addoalex@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:53:50 -0800
Subject: Pease read carefully and reply.



From: Mr. Alexander AddoAccra, Ghana.Tel: +233207462262
Dearest, 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. Alexander Addo, Branch manager of a financial institution here in Ghana.I am a Ghanaian married with two kids, I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars ($2,550.000).This fund is the excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made as profit during the 2005 financial year. I have already submitted annual report for that year to my head office here in Accra Ghana as I have watched with keen interest as they will never know of this excess.
I have since placed this amount of Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand United State Dollars ($2,550.000) to an Escrow Coded account without a beneficiary (anonymous) to avoid trace.As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account on my behalf. 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 involved 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 so that the fund can be transferred to your account. If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your Timely response with your private telephone number, full names and address to my email. With Regards,
Mr. Alexander AddoTel: +233207462262
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