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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: "Mr. Thomas Hillsley" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <thomasbhillsley@barid.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2015 16:48:10 +0200
Subject: Re: Urgent Reponse

Dear Friend,
 
My Name is Thomas Hillsley, Regional Manager Of Skye Bank Ghana Ltd, Central Branch Accra. I Am 42 Years Old Married With Two Kids. As The Regional Manager, It Is My Duty To Send In Financial Report To My Head Office In The Capital City Accra At The End Of Each Business Year.
 
On The Course of Business Report Six Years ago, I Discovered That My Branch in Which I Am the Manager Made Excess profit of Twelve Million, Two Hundred Thousand United State Dollars Which My Head Office Are Not Aware Of And Will Never Be Aware Of. I Have Placed This Funds On What We Call Escrow 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 Receive This Funds on Partnership Business In Your Bank Account And We Share 50%/50% Of The Total Funds. There Are Practically No Risk Involved, It Will Be A Bank To Bank Transfer Or Diplomatic Means.
 
All I Need From You Is To Stand As The Original Depositor Of This Fund With My Branch; I Will Give You Full Details Of The Account, So That My Head Office Can Order The Release Of The Funds.
 
Note that i am about to retire from Banking service, And If this funds are left untouched, it will be regarded as bank property that is my reasons and this money was part of my effort which I made for the past 14 years of banking service.
 
If You Accept To Work with me, send me your details and do not even reply if you are not interested.
 
Take The Advantage Of This And Trust Which I Bestowed In You.
 
Kindly furnish me with your,
 
Full Name:
Occupation:
Country:
Address:
Phone Number:
Age:
 
I Will Urgently Call You.
 
Thank You
Mr. Thomas Hillsley.
Email : thomasbhillsley@barid.com
 

Anti-fraud resources: