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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: Thomas Gelele <thomasgeleley2k@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 06:12:50 +0100
Subject: I need your Assistance!!!

My Dear,

I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health. This letter may
come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met. The
message could be strange but it's real if you pay some attention to it. I
want to notify you about it at least for the sake of your integrity.

In a brief introduction, I am Thomas Gelele, the Director of Operation with
BSIC BANK. (BANQUE SAHELO-SAHARIENNE POUR L'INVESTISSEMENT ET LE
COMMERCE)Benin-Cotonou, Republic of Benin. I have a very interesting
transaction to discuss with you.
The business under discussion has to do with George Stearns a national of
your country, who is a Consultant/ contractor with Societe Nationale Des
Products D' Agricole (SONAPRA) Company in Benin-Cotonou.

I managed to get your contact details through the Internet search myself
because time is of importance to it and I am desperately looking for a
person to assist me to pull this money out from the bank before our corrupt
government officials will confiscate the money.

On Firday, December 26, 2003, George Stearns , his wife and their only
daughter were involved in Air-Crash near the Atlantic Ocean in Cotonou
suburb. For more clarifications, you can visit the BBC web news for the
tragedy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

Since then I have made several inquiries to your Embassy, in a bid to
locate any relation of George Stearns. All attempts to reach the next of
kin of George Stearns has been futile as He had no family here in Benin
Republic.

Hence my decision to contact you. I want you and I to go into partnership,
the nature of your business is completely irrelevant to this transaction as
all I need from you is an assurance that my interest will be fully
protected once this transaction is concluded.

George Stearns made a numbered time (fixed) deposited for twelve calendar
and his account with our Bank accrues to about (Four Million, Three hundred
and Fifty- Two Thousand US Dollars) $USD4.352M.
According to the Benin Law, at the expiration of TEN years, the money will
revert to the ownership of the Benin government if nobody applies to claim
the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner
to stand in as the next of kin to George Stearns so that the fruits of this
old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government
officials who will latter use the money to sponsor war in Africa and kill
innocent citizens in the search for political power/seat.

Please note that There will be no problem at all, my position as the
Director of Operation guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction within 7 Banking days and the money will be paid into your
account for us to share in the ratio of 40% for you and 60% for me.

This is very simple, I will like you to reply immediately so that I can
send you the Text of application which you will fill and apply to the bank
as the next of kin to George Stearns and I will use my good position in the
bank as the Director of Operation to make sure that the application is
approved, during board meeting for immediate payment.
If you are Interested, reply immediately so that we can proceed at once.
Please send to me also your private phone, or mobile numbers for easier
correspondence or you can give me a call on 00229-64000842. I look forward
to hearing from you soon.
Best Regards.
Thomas Gelele.

BSIC BANK COTONOU BENIN.

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