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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: Hon Mensah Owusu <honmensahowusu@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2013 15:54:13 -0800
Subject: Can I Trust =?UTF-8?Q?You=3F?=



--
Sir/Ma

Please permit me to introduce myself to you. I am Hon Mensah Owusu ,
The Financial Controller of the Ecowas contract procurement
authority Ghana (EGCPU).

My purpose of writing to you is this: There was a contract awarded by
the Tenders Board of the ECOWAS in the year 2011 and the contract has
been completed and commissioned. The original contract sum was Fifty
Million United States Dollars Only, but it was deliberately
over-invoiced by 100%,thereby bringing the total contract sum to Hundred
Million United States Dollars Only. The concerned foreign contractor has
been paid his due entitlement, leaving behind the surplus sum of Fifty
Million United States Dollars which is presently in the Reserve Account
of the BANK.

Now, as the present financial controller of this Corporation, I need
your co-operation and assistance in order to enable me claim and
transfer the Fifty Million United States Dollars abroad (into your Bank
Account) for our subsequent use. I need your collaboration as a
foreigner because the ethics of our Civil Code of Conduct here does not
permit us to operate or own a foreign Bank account while still in active
service.

Please note that after the successful transfer of the fund, I will come
over to meet with you and we shall discuss my investment plans. I will
offer you 30% of the total sum for your assistance.

If you are willing and able to handle this deal with me, please include
the following in your response:

1. Your full names

2. Your contact address

3. Your private telephone and fax numbers

4. Your company's name

Waiting for your urgent response to this mail.

Best Regards,

Hon Mensah Owusu
CONTRACT AWARDING COMMITTEE,
Ecowas Commission

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