419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Asare Bright <asareb.hfc@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2016 18:15:47 -0700
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?Ref=3A_r=C3=A9pondre_revenir_rapidement_pour_la_meilleure_?=
=?UTF-8?Q?voie_=C3=A0_suivre=2E?=

Hi,

Greetings and I hope you are doing well in life. I am in control of
US$15,000,000.00 with 230Kg 0f Gold deposited in my bank by the Late
Libya leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

The fund/gold is being held under a Non-investment account without the
Gaddafi Family's name as the late Gaddafi instructed that the funds be
kept TOP SECRET until he decides what to do with it.

As the Gaddafiâ€™s Account Officer and manager of this branch of HFC
Bank Ghana Limited, I plan to activate the account with your name as
the original depositor and then process outward remittance of the
funds to you.

You will get 35% of the total funds for your role plus investment of
my portion under a documented working agreement. For your information
this is to be top secret and you will follow my instruction's alone to
work it out or else it will be a jeopardize transaction.

Please get back to me with your response alongside your physical
contact address/telephone number and we will move quickly to
consummate the deal.

With regards,
Asare Bright
HFC Bank Limited,
HFC, ACCRA CENTRAL BRANCH.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam