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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Williams " <michaelwilliams5250@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2022 09:55:36 -0700
Subject: From The Regional Manager!

Dear friend!

My name is Mr. Michael Williams, a branch manager for a financial
institution. I got your contact through a reliable source called the
Ghana Chamber of Commerce Database. I am a married Ghanaian and I have
3 children. I am writing to request your assistance in transferring
$12,500,000.00 dollars. This fund is my agency's surplus profit that
I'm managing for the past year (ie fiscal year 2021).

I am obliged to ask for your help to receive this money in your bank
account in my name. I agree that 45% of this money will go to you as a
foreign partner, as long as you provide an overseas account, and 55%
will go to me. I need to emphasize that there is virtually no risk
involved in this. It will be a bank to bank transfer. All I need from
you is to be the original depositor of this fund so that the fund can
be transferred to your account.

Mr. Michael Williams,
The Regional Manager,

Anti-fraud resources: