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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: williams amposah <amposahwilliams973@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2022 03:39:02 -0600
Subject: So I am seeking your cooperation


Hello Dear,
I am writing to you in confidence hoping that you will handle this mail
with utmost confidentiality and not betray me at the end of this deal.

William Amposah is my name; I’m a banker and account relation officer to
the late Mr. Allen Cooper.

Mr. Allen Cooper while alive was a tile and precious stone/Gold merchant.
On my advice he made a fixed deposit with our bank for 24 calendar months,
valued at Sixteen Million pounds and the maturity date for this deposit
contract was on 10th of April, 2022; sadly he died before the time last
year October, due to complications from Covid-19; may his soul rest in
peace!

Our bank management is not aware of his death, but I knew because we are
friends and I am his Account Relation Officer. He did not mention any next
of kin/ heir when the account was opened as he never married.

Last week our Bank Management requested that I inform Mr. Allen Cooper to
give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract
or not.

I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to
handle the situation, because if our Bank Directors know that Mr. Allen
Cooper is dead and do not have any successor, they will take the funds for
their personal use and I don't want such to happen.

So I am seeking your cooperation to present you as the next of kin to this
account so that the money will be released to you and we share in the
percentage of 54% for me and 44% for you, then 2% will be for the expenses
incurred on both sides.

It is better we get the money and share it than allowing our Bank Directors
to take it for themselves, they are rich already.

Thanks as I await your urgent response.
William Amposah.

Anti-fraud resources: