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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: "Frank Prince" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:13:57 -0700
Subject: I need you help

 
       
Dearest ,
I am Mr. Frank Prince,  the general auditor of a bank in Accra Ghana.There  is this floating funds which is to the tune of Eleven
Million five hundred thousand united states Dollars ($11,500,000.00 Dollars) Which has been floating in this A/C no: 6457128429 since 2001 after the death of the true owner of the funds Late Mr.Peter Williams, an American who was a private business man unfortunately lost his life in November 2001 in an auto crash, including his wife and only daughter.
I just came across his file again when I was auditing all the credit account, and I find out that nobody has ever come on behalf of the
Late Mr.Peter Williams, as his next of kin to claim the funds. And I have been monitoring this account since I discovered this information.
In this case I have concluded to contact you if you are reliable to execute this transaction with me, then I will instruct you on how to
claim as the next of kin to the late Mr.Peter Williams, so that the funds could be transferred to your overseas A/C, if only you can
co-operate with me.
After the transaction is being successful I will come to your country to collect my own share which is 55% for me and 45% for you, feel free to give your own opinion on this transaction modality if you wish.Send to me the following information
1}FULL NAME  :
2}YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS :
3}AGE AND OCCUPATION :
4}DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER :
Upon the receipt of this,i will in turn get back to you and give you the modalities for the bank to approve you as the next of kin. Note
also,this transaction must be kept classified  because of its nature.I look forward to receiving your prompt response.
I await your soonest response.
Regards,
Mr. Frank Prince
General Auditor, Accra Ghana
 

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