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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: "WILLIAMS SMITH" <smith_smith7@msn.com>
Reply-To: willi_smith7@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 08:17:42 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR REPLY!!!

Mr. Williams Smith
Natwest Bank Ltd
London UK
   Dear Friend.
My name is Mr. Williams Smith; I am the credit manager of Natwest Bank 
Ltd
Here in the United Kingdom. I am contacting you of a business
Transfer, of a huge sum of money from a deceased account.
Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude 
   will make any one
Apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that everything has been
Taken care off, and all will be well at the end of the day. I decided
To contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.
PROPOSITION;
 
I am the account officer of a foreigner named Jean Gandesbery and her
Husband Robert Gandesbery who died in an air crash along with his wife
On the January 31 in an Alaska airline Flight 261 with other passengers
On board. You can confirm this from the website below which
was
Published by 
CNN.WEBSITE. <http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/>
Since his death, none of his next-of-kin is alive to make claims for
This money as his heir, because they 
all died in the same accident
Himself and his wife (May their soul rest in peace). We cannot release the
Fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the
Next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.
Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission 
to have you stand as a
Next of kin to
the deceased, as all documentations will be carefully
Worked out by me for the funds (US$15,300,000,00) to be released in 
Your
Favor as the beneficiary's next of kin.
 
Because after four years the money will be c!
 alled
back to the bank
Treasury as unclaimed bills and the money shared amongst the directors of
The bank. So it is on this note I decided to seek for whom his   name
Shall be used as the next of kin/beneficiary to this funds rather
Than allow the bank directors to share this money amongst 
themselves at
The end of the year.
 
It may interest you to know that we have secured from the probate an
Order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual
Business endeavor by furnishing me with the following information if
You are interested.
 
1.A Beneficiary name. In order for me to prepare the 
document for
Transfer of the funds in your name.
 
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers. For our personal contact and mutual
Trust in each other.
 
I shall be compensating you with Four million dollars ($4,000,000,00)
On final conclusion of this project for   your assistance, while the
Balance $11,300,000 dollars shall be for me for investment purposes.
Because I intend to retire after the conclusion 
of this transaction. If
This proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to contact me
Immediately. Do not take undue advantage of the   trust I have bestowed
In You, I await your urgent response
 
Regards,
Mr. Williams Smith
Natwest Bank   
Ltd
London UK

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