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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: =?UTF-8?B?Ik1yIEphbWVzIE9rb2gi?= <hectorco@infovia.com.ar>
Date:
Subject:

From: Desk Of Dr James OKoh,
The Director Of EcoBank Benin Republic
Y= OUR REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 06654
(jamesokoh228@yahoo.com)

$10.5MILLIO= N USD.
 
Attention:
 
Today is Tuesday  being 15= th of October, 2015. This is to inform you that on 19th of this October is = the last date for you to send the registration fee to enable me assist you = register your fund with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) where the wil= l issue you the International Transfer Coverage Certificate that will autho= rize Eco Bank International Remittance Department to effect the transfer of= your compensation fund into your bank account without any further delay. 
Your fund will credit into your bank account within 48 hours yo= u send the registration fee which is $100 .The problem which you have is th= at you have not ask your self why you have not be able to receive your fund= , the answer is that your fund have not been registered with the Intern ato= nal Monetary Fund (IMF). The United Nations and United State Government In = Collaboration with World Bank concluded that before such amount of money ca= n transfer to any country the beneficiary have to register his/her fund wit= h the International Monetary Fund to enable them issue you the Internationa= l Transfer Coverage Certificate that will enable the International Remittan= ce Department to credit your fund into your bank account.
 
I ad= vice you to follow the United Nations and United State Government In Collab= oration with World Bank instruction to register your fund with the Internat= ional Monetary Fund before it too late. It will take only but 48hours to en= able your fund reflect into your bank account.
Use the below information= to send the registration fee as soon as you receive this mail.

Send= the $150 through money gram send the reference number direct to this mail = box immediately you send the fee today.
 
Receivers Name: PAUL E= DE
Country Benin Republic
City Cotonou
Test Question: In God
An= swer: We Trust
Amount: $100
    
Send the $100 thro= ugh money gram send the reference number direct to this mail box immediatel= y you send the fee today.

Yours faithfully,
(jamesokoh228@yahoo.c= om)
Mr James Okoh,
Compensation  Payment Department.
Eco Bank= Plc

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