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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: James Nicholas <sam_okoh_x5@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: james_nicholas111@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:54:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: SWIFT TRANSFER


DEAR Sir,

RE: SWIFT TRANSFER OF US$15.500 MILLION INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
MY NAME IS MR MICHAEL JOHNSON. I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA LTD IN THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA. I GOT YOUR INFORMATION FROM A FRIEND WHO IS A MEMBER OF OUR TRADE MISSION. I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH. I AM 42 YEARS OLD MARRIED WITH TWO LOVELY KIDS.

.. I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I. AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK GHANA. IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL CITY AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR.

IN THE COURSE OF THE; LAST YEAR BUSINESS REPORT, I DISCOVERED THAT MY REGION IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE FIFTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($15, 500.000.00) WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF.

I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT IS CALLED ESCROW / SUNDREY ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CAN NOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY. SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 25% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.

THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED. IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER; ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT.

IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL BELOW IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS. CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AND ONLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS

THANKS IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

YOURS TRULY

MR,JAMES NICHOLAS
e_mail (james_nicholas111@yahoo.it)


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