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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "very confidential" (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.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447937888862

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?Q?=D0=94=D0=BE=D0=BC=D0=BE=D1=80=D0=B0=D0=B4=D0=BE=D0=B2?=
=?utf-8?Q?=D0=B0_=D0=9C=D0=B0=D1=80=D0=B8=D1=8F?=
<andrewbailey@bigmir.net>
Reply-To: andrewbailey@fastmail.co.uk
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2017 22:53:00 +0300
Subject: MUTUAL FUNDS TRANSFER FROM BANK OF ENGLAND.

BANK OF ENGLAND
Prudential Regulation Authority
Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH
Tel:+447937888862.

Date:February 11,2017.

Hello,

I am a Chief Executive in the Bank of England and based on my findings in a
financial file,the sum of 3.5million GBP with an accrued interest was discovered
dormant in a client's account that was ascertained dead 7 years ago. I will
facilitate the movement of the money to a Swiss Bank for your claim if you are
interested in this mutual beneficial transaction and we will split this money
50/50.

Send me your Contact Address, Phone numbers and i will dispatch all legal claim
papers to you in this regard.Awaiting your urgent positive reply. Please, keep
this information very confidential consequent upon my job security.

Thanks,

Mr. Andrew Bailey - Chief Executive,
Financial Conduct Authority,BoE.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam