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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: "ECOBANK \(GH\) LTD" <eric.offei@ecobank.com>
Reply-To: <ecobnkonline@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 16:50:34 -0000
Subject: Esteemed Gratitude

The Branch Manager
Eco Bank of Ghana
Abeka Lapaz Branch
Accra, Ghana.
 
Esteemed Gratitude,
 
I anticipate that you read this mail quickly and let me know your opinion or willingness on this classified information that I will release to you. Firstly, I am happily married with 3 lovely kids and therefore I would not want to jeopardize this opportunity to change my financial status that will give my family a secured future.
 
I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as the Branch Manager of the Eco Bank of Ghana Abeka Lapaz Branch; it is my duty to re-direct financial report to the Bank Head Office in the capital city Accra-Ghana at the end of each year. On the course of the last two years report (2009), I discovered that my Branch in which I am the Manager made Excess Profit of (Twelve Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars) which my Head Office are not aware about neither must they know that I am involved in this transaction.
 
I already place this fund on what we call suspense account without a beneficiary in the banking system. As an Officer of the bank I am not directly connected to the fund, this is why I am contacting you for us to work so that you can assist in receiving this money into your Bank Account for us to share, while you will have 35% of the total fund.
 
Note: there are practically no risks involved, it will be bank to bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand as the Original Depositor of this fund who made the deposit with our branch so that my Head Office can order the transfer to your designated Bank Account. If you accept this offer to work with me, I will appreciate it very much. As soon as I receive your kind response, I will give you details on how we can achieve success in this transaction.
 
Waiting for your response.......
 
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Eric Offei
Ecobnkonline@msn.com

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