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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.HAMILTON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hamil34@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2016 17:59:30 -0700
Subject: Very Confidential (Please reply)

My Dear Good Friend,

I am writing to seek your cooperation over this business, please due welcome this letter.

I am Hamilton Williams, I'm the Audit accountting officer of Standard Chartered Bank of Ghana Koforidua Branch in the western region of Ghana, I write to solicit your assistance in a funds transfer deal involving Five Million, seven hundred and twenty thousand united state dollars ($5,720,000.00).

I have already submitted an approved end of the year report for the year 2015 to my head office here in Accra-Ghana and they will never know of this excess. I have since then, placed this amount on a Non-Investment Account without a beneficiary.

Upon your response, I will configure your name on our database as holder of the Non-Investment Account. I will then guide you on how to apply to my head office for the Account Closure/ bank-to-bank remittance of the funds to your designated bank account.

The total sum will be shared as follows: 60% for me, 40% for you and expenses incidental occur during the transfer will be incurs by both of us. The transfer is risk free on both sides hence you are going to follow my instruction till the fund transfer to your account. Since I work in this bank that is why you should be confident in the success of this transaction because you will be updated with information as at when desired.

I will wish you to keep this transaction secret and confidential as I am hoping to retire with my share of this money at the end of transaction which will be when this money is safety in your account. I will then come over to your country for sharing according to the previously agreed percentages.

You might even have to advise me on possibilities of investment in your country or elsewhere of our choice. May God help you to help me to a restive retirement, Amen?

However I shall be waiting for your response and assurance.

Revert Urgently asap.

Honestly,

Hamilton J. Williams.
hamil34@outlook.com
+233 240-567-723

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