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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: Mr. Paul Adu <paul_adu@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:36:43 -0500
Subject: WAITING TO READ FROM YOU

DEAR FRIEND,
MY NAME IS PAUL ADU I HAIL FROM THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, WEST AFRICA. I AM 50 YEARS OLD AND MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.
I AM THE LEGAL CONSULTANT OF A REPUTABLE SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS COMPANY FOR MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS. I GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM THE GHANA FOREIGN TRADE MISSION AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT DISAPPOINT ME OVER THIS MUTUAL TRANSACTION.

WITHIN THIS PERIOD, I HAVE WATCHED WITH METICULOUS PRECISION HOW AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONARIES HAVE BEEN USING SECURITY OUTFIT TO MOVE LARGE SUMS OF MONEY IN CASH (US DOLLARS, POUNDS STERLING, FRENCH FRANCS AND EUROS) TO THEIR FOREIGN PARTNERS. THEY BRING IN THESE CONSIGNMENTS OF CASH AND SECRETLY DECLARE THE CONTENTS AS JEWELRIES, GOLD, DIAMONDS, PRECIOUS STONES, FAMILY TREASURES AND DOCUMENTS ETC.

A LOT OF THE CONSIGNMENTS ARE LYING HERE UNCLAIMED FOR AS MUCH AS TWENTY YEARS. NOBODY WILL EVER COME FOR THEM BECAUSE IN MOST CASES, THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT ARE NEVER AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY EXCEPT THE DEPOSITORS AND MANY OF THEM ARE DEAD. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE YEAR 2008, OUR COMPANY'S MANAGEMENT HAS CHANGED THE PROCEDURE TO CLAIM CONSIGNMENTS, SUCH THAT AS SOON AS YOU ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE SECRET CODE FOR A CONSIGNMENT, IT WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU ON DEMAND.

MANY OF THESE CONSIGNMENTS BELONGING TO GEN.ABACHA, MOBUTU SESE SECO AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED IN THE PAST AND THIS IS WHY I AM HERE SOLICITING FOR YOUR MAXIMUM CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE.

GEN. ABACHA HAS 160 CONSIGNMENTS DEPOSITED WITH SEVERAL NAMES AND CODES. 64 HAVE BEEN CLAIMED SO FAR. THE FIRST SON OF GEN. ABACHA DIED IN A PLANE CRASH AND THE SECOND SON (MOHAMMED) IS FACING A MURDER CHARGE AND EMBEZZLEMENT, THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE UNDER HOUSE ARREST WITHOUT COMMUNICATION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

I HAVE FINALIZED EVERY ARRANGEMENT FOR YOU TO CLAIM CONSIGNMENT NO;1401,CONTAINING THE SUM OF FIFTEEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS(US$15,800,000.00). I WILL SUPPLY YOU WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS AND YOU WILL SEND IT TO THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR COMPANY.

THE PROCEDURE IS SIMPLE; APPLY OFFICIALLY TO THE DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN OPERATIONS OF THE SECURITY COMPANY, REQUESTING FOR THE RELEASE OF CONSIGNMENT NO; 1401. THEY WILL DEMAND FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITE AND THE SECRET CODE AND REFERENCE CODE OF THE CONSIGNMENTS AND IT WILL THEN BE RELEASED TO YOU. I WILL USE YOUR NAME,ADDRESS, TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO CHANGE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE FILE AND EVERY THING WILL BE OK HENCE I AM IN CHARGE.

IN CONCLUSION, I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS BUSINESS IS RISK FREE. AND YOU AND ME WILL SHARE THE MONEY 50/50. THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY YOU REPLY TO THIS MAIL INDICATING YOUR INTEREST.

YOURS SINCERELY
PAUL ADU

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