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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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Fraud email example:

From: "TOM DE SWAAN" <tomdeswaan44@msn.com>
Reply-To: tomdeswaan44@walla.com
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 22:55:25 +0000
Subject: TRUSTING YOU IN THIS

FROM THE DESK OF TOM DE SWAAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS.
EMAIL: tomdeswaan44@walla.com


RE: TRUSTING YOU IN ACTUALIZING THIS GOAL


Dear Beloved Friend,

Let me start by introducing myself to you, I am Tom De Swaan, Chief
Financial Officer, ABN AMRO BANK. I saw your contact during my private
search in the internet and I want to believe that you will be very honest,
committed and capable of assisting in this business venture.

Firstly, let me explain the source of this funds and what you are
expected to do. A foreigner LATE DR. GERALD A. SOFFEN was an astronomer and
had a functional account with the ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS until his
death some years ago. The deceased Late Gerald A. Soffen banked with us
and had a closing balance as at 22nd November 2000 worth €
24,500,000.00 (Twenty Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros). My bank
now
expects a next-of-kin to claim the funds as the beneficiary. Efforts have
been made by ABN AMRO
BANK to get in touch with the Late Gerald A. Soffen’s Family or
relative but to no avail.

Based on the perceived possibility of not being able to locate Late
Gerald A. Soffen’s relatives, the management under the influence of our
chairman and the board of directors are making arrangements for the funds
to be declared unclaimed and channeled to an unknown account. It is
based on this
that I have contacted you to stand as the next-of-kin of Late Gerald
A. Soffen so that the funds, will be released and paid into your account
as the beneficiary/next-of-kin to the deceased.

All documents to enable you get the funds have been carefully worked
out as I have secured documents from the different offices concerned for
the smooth transfer of the fund to your nominated account. It has been
agreed that
you will be compensated with 30% of the remitted Funds, while I keep
60% as my share and 10% is been set aside for both local and
international expenses that might be incurred in actualizing this
transaction.

If this proposal satisfies you, please reach me either by mail:
tomdeswaan44@walla.com or phone: +31 64 921 4989, for more
clarification about how this will be done.

Yours faithfully,

TOM DE SWAAN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS


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