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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: "Smith Okechukwu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smithoke0007@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 08:56:49 -0500
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED ASAP

Dear Friend,
 
It is indeed my pleasure and honor to write you this letter, which I believe
will be a surprise to you as we have never met before. My name is Mr. Smith
Okechukwu.
 
I am the regional manager of FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc (FBN) Port Harcourt
Branch in the western region of Nigeria. I got your information on a
recent bank conference with other West African countries held in Lome the capital city of
Togo in West Africa.
 
I write you this proposal in good faith; I am 45years old married with two
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 FIRST BANK NIGERIA Plc it is my duty to send in a
financial report to my head office in the capital city Abuja at the end of each business year.
 
On the course of the last year 2013 business report, I discovered that my
branch in which I am the manager made Nine million united state dollars ($9,000,
000.00) 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 Fund, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this Fund in
your bank account and get 35% of the total funds as commission while 5% for any
expenses.
 
Then 60% shall be for me. There are practically no risks involved, it will
be a bank-to-bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand as the original
depositor of the fund, who made the deposit with my branch so that my head
office can order the transfer to your designated bank Account.
 
Hope to hear from you as soon as you receive this massage. Thank you in
advance and May God bless you and your family.
Please send me your details below:
 
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.PHONE AND FAX & MOBILE NUMBER
3.ADDRESS
4.YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
 
Yours truly
 
Mr.Smith Okechukwu
 

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