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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: adofo yaw <adofoyaw7@live.com>
Reply-To: <adofoyaw@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 14:41:43 +0000
Subject: OVER INVOICED CONTRACT SUM



FROM:HON.adofo yaw,CHAIRMAN PARLIAMENTARY FINANCIAL COMMITEE ON FOREIGN CONTRACTORS VERIFICATION AND PAYMENTSACCRA-GHANA
ATTN:
OVER INVOICED CONTRACT SUM
I GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM A VERY RELIABLE SOURCE THOUGH I DID NOT DISCLOSE TO THE SOURCE OF YOUR CONTACT.EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE IN MIND.I AM THE CHAIRMAN,PARLIAMENTARY FINANCIAL COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN CONTRACTORS VERIFICATION AND PAYMENTS,ACCRA-GHANA.I HAVE DECIDED TO NEGOTIATE FOR A TRUSTED FOREIGN FIRM OR INDIVIDUAL'S BANK ACCOUNT FOR A POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF SOME FUND BEING AN OVER-INVOICED SUM RESULTING FROM VARIOUS CONTRACTS EXECUTED BY FOREIGN COMPANIES IN THIS COUNTRY.
NATURE OF CONTRACT: SUPPLY, INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING OF MACHINERY TO ASHANTI GOLDFIELD. OBJECTIVES: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF THESE CONTRACTS WERE PURPOSELY OVER-INVOICED BY ME IN MY CAPACITY AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED COMMITEE WITH THE SUM OF FIFTEEN MILLION, UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$15,000,000.00). NOW THE FIRMS INVOLVED HAVE BEEN PAID ACCORDINGLY AND THE PROJECT COMMISSIONED. AT THIS JUNCTURE THEREFORE, I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS INFLATED SUM TO A TRUSTED FOREIGNER'S ACCOUNT, AS THE TRUE BENEFICIARY THROUGH THE APEX BANK (BANK OF GHANA).
THIS IS BECAUSE WE AS CIVIL SERVANTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNTS. BENEFITS: I AM THEREFORE WILLING TO GIVE YOU 30% OF THE AMOUNT, WHILE 70% WILL BE FOR ME. REQUIREMENTS: ALL MODALITIES HAVE EFFICIENTLY AND SECRETLY BEEN WORKED OUT WITH THE TOP OFFICIALS OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO FACILITATE THE REMITTANCE OF THIS AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF RECEIVING THE FOLLOWING BANK INFORMATION FROM YOU.
THE NAME, ADDRESS,TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS OF YOUR BANK, YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER AND ACCOUNT NAME AS WELL AS YOUR COMPANY'S NAME IF THERE IS ANY, YOUR PERSONAL TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS SHOULD BE SENT TO ME AS WELL,FOR IMMEDIATE PROCESSING.
ON RECEIPT OF THIS BANKING INFORMATION, ALL ARRANGEMENT WILL BE PERFECTED HERE FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND HITCH-FREE TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT,PENDING WHEN I WILL PROCEED TO YOUR COUNTRY IN ORDER TO MEET YOU AND DISBURSE ACCORDINGLY.
YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGHLY NEEDED. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.AND YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME WITH THE ABOVE E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR CONFIDENTIAL REASONS.AWAITING YOUR PROMPT AND FAVOURABLE RESPONSE.BEST REGARDS,adofo yaw.
_________________________________________________________________
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