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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ghana Shipping & Courier Services Ltd. Accra-Ghana" <ghscourier@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:22:41 +0100
Subject: ATM Cards and CHEQUE

Dear Sir,

We have with us here at our office your ATM Card (2) and a cheque, which
were among the pile of goods recovered from some robbers.

If you want us to deliver it to you, you should contact us immediately by
writing back.

You should send us your complete courier address for delivery to be made
immediately.

Cost of insured delivery is only 180 USD.

Note: If you do not want it , you can ignore and don;t write back. we will
understand that, and not pleading for us to cover or pay for delivery to
you.

Thank you,

Michael Egware
Ghana Shipping Services
Accra-Ghana

Anti-fraud resources: