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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: George Owusu <gowusu001@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2013 06:53:12 -0700
Subject: FROM;MR.GEORGE OWUSU REPLY.

Dear Friend,

My name is George Owusu I am the regional manager of Standard Chartered
bank of Ghana Tarkwa branch in the western region of Ghana. I got your
information when i was searching for an oversea partner among other names.
I write you this proposal in good faith; I am 51 years old married with
three lovely kids. I am a devoted Christian and a man of peace.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, as the
regional manager of the Standard Chartered bank it is my duty to send in a
financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of
each business year. On the course of the last year 2012 business report, I
discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made seven million five
hundred united state dollars (7.500m)usd which my head office are not aware
of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call
escrow call account with no beneficiary.

As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so
my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank
account and get 40% of the total funds as commission.

There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank
transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original
depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my
head office can order he transfer to your designated bank account.

If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much. Call me with
my private numbers above or email me with the above email address so that
we can go over the details and i will give you my full
information's.Remember there is no risk involved i promise.

Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.Reply to my
private email address gowusu1960@yahoo.com

Yours truly
Mr.George Owusu.

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