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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.Tony Ngomi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tony.ngomi@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 16:09:44 +0800
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,
I am Tony Ngomi. I am currently working with One of the Rural Banks
in South Africa as a regional branch manager.
And now, I am in grip of funds; Thirty-One Million Eight Hundred
Thousand Dollars($31.8m USD) readily available for you and me to share,
and I am seeking for your cooperation to transfer this cash money to
your position.
I realized these funds as part of unclaimed deposited funds by a
deceased person who deals on Diamond and precious stones in Ghana before
his death in 2009 Last year 2011 some funds where discovered unclaimed,
and according to the Banking policy; such funds are to be taken to the
"National Treasury"but was embezzled by some people, I don't want to
fold my hands watch them again on this particular fund that has come as
opportunity for me and you.
Immediately I realized these funds $31.8m, I placed it on Sundry Escrow
Account here in our bank in South Africa here without beneficiary
information and no person knows about it and Because of my position as a
regional manager in my bank,the code of conduct bureau forbids me from
operating a foreign account,this is why I am contacting you.
Now I chose you as partner and what I want from you is to apply to our
Bank head-office as the beneficiary of this fund to be transfer to you
and only you as a foreigner can claim this money, while I will furnish
you every prove/information as the true owner of this money. I am ready
to share 25% of the thirty One million Eight hundred thousand
dollars($31.8m) for you while 75% will be for me.
As soon as the money $31.8m is transferred into your account, please
keep my share, while I decide on which investment I will establish in
your country. This transfer is a risk free transaction, this is bank to
bank transfer. Kindly and urgently reply to me your willingness for
successful transfer.
Yours truly,
Tony

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