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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: Garry Reynolds <garryreynolds05@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2014 16:00:09 +0100
Subject: TREAT WITH UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY

I write to seek your assistance to move out fund valued £7,522,612 GBP
(Seven Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-two Thousand, Six Hundred and
twelve British pounds Sterling) only.

My name is Garry Reynolds, a banker based here in London United
Kingdom, I am going to be presenting you as available beneficiary to a
late client. This is because you have the "express ticket" that is
most valuable to the success of this pursuit (your last name). Since
you have a similar last name to the late account beneficiary, it will
be most credible to establish you as the next of kin/beneficiary.

I took this decision basically because of this reason and I hope it
is going to open up a good business relationship that will stand the
test of time between you and I.

I will process papers presenting you as the inheritor to the account
and the fund therein and it will be transferred to your nominated
account without any problems. Be aware that I am in good position to
work on the files of the late account holder and present who the
inheritor is to my bank.

There are practically no risks involved as long as you will remain
honest to me and follow my instructions. The processes will be
executed under a very legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law and it will be simply a bank-to-bank
Telegraphic transfer (Swift/Telex). Your major role would be to stand
as the beneficiary to this fund in my bank and provide an account
where the fund will be transferred to.

If you accept write me back via (g.reynolds90@yahoo.com) and I will
tell you what we will do to accomplish this.

Please note that the information I am passing to you in this mail
should be handled with UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY and must not be divulged
in any way or manner to anybody no matter how close to you. Simply
delete this mail if you are not interested as I will prefer fewer
questions asked both within and outside my bank. Your participation
will be 40% of the total fund.

My kind regards,
Garry Reynolds

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