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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: "Barr. Godwin Addo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <esq_godwinaddo1@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 18:40:55 +0900
Subject: Hello

Greetings to you,
 
I am Barrister. Godwin Addo (Esq.), a legal practitioner. My client was  a member board of trustees SPDC London and was killed with his entire  family in a fatal accident some years ago, Before his death, I assisted him to deposit the sum of $30 Million ( Thirty Million Dollars) in a Security Company here in Ghana for safekeeping.
 
The funds have remained unclaimed since his death, Considering the lack of success to locate any of his relatives for over a year now,I hereby solicit your consent to enable me present you as the Next of Kin to my deceased client and you will then give instructions to the Security Company to transfer the deposited funds into another account you will provide, after which we shall then share the funds upon agreed terms.
 
Finally, Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret and furnish me with the following information which will assist me  in this claim,
 
1) Full Name
2) Home/Office Address
3) Age
4) Marital Status
5) Cell Phone/Fax Number
6) Your Country
7) Occupation
8) Sex
9) Your Company
 
These information will assist me to secure the necessary papers in your name When I receive your response, I will provide you with further details.
 
I await your reply.
 
Barrr.Godwin Addo {Esq.}
 
 
 
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