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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: "Mr David Idehen" <david.idehen@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: david.idehen23@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 30 May 2010 20:55:03 +0100
Subject: Re:Urgent

Greetings to you,

I am Mr David Idehen, the regional bank manager of the International
Commercial Bank Ghana Ltd. I have made a deep and careful findings and
research before contacting you. And believing you can be the one to assist me
on this transaction. Can i have your trust and confidence. I have packaged a
financial transaction that would benefit i and you, it is my duty to send in a
financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of
each year, and on the course of last year 2009 end of year report.I discovered
that my branch made an excess profit of seven million Two hundred thousand
united states dollars [$7,200,000.00] which my head office is not aware of. I
have since placed this funds on what we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any
beneficiary... As an officer of the bank i
can not be directly, connected to this funds, this is why i need you to assist
me and receive this funds into your bank account for us to SHARE.

I will offer you 20% of the total amount for your assistance. Note that there
are practically no risks involved in this transaction,it will be bank to bank
transfer, all i need from you is to stand and claim as the original depositor
of this money who made the deposit with Kaneshie branch
so that my Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.


My request of you as a foreigner is necessary to apply for the claim and
release of the abandoned SUSPENSE ACCOUNT as the original beneficiary of this
said funds, and i have enough information for the success to claim this funds,
all i need is your co-operation and trust, i will guide you on how to go about
this. I assure you we can achieve it successfully.

Awaiting your urgent reply.

Many Thanks.
Mr David Idehen.

Anti-fraud resources: