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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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.

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • scott.wood119@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Investec Private Bank" <scott.wood@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: privatebank.scottwood.investec@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 09:47:25 -0700
Subject: REQUEST FOR TRANSFER.OF FUND


*

>From Scott Wood,
Investec Private Bank
2 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7QP
London, United Kingdom
Reg. No. 489604
*

Private E-mail address
< scott.wood119@yahoo.com >
*



REQUEST FOR TRANSFER.OF FUND
*

Good Day to you.

Strictly Personal,
*

23rd May 2008
*

I am Scott Wood, the Group Finance Director with a Investec Private Bank
here in the United Kingdom. I lately discovered a dormant account in my
office, and after three years of rigorous investigations and attempts to
locate the beneficiaries of these funds, I have come to the utmost
conclusions that the funds are 'dead funds' During my first quarter Auditing
for the year 2008, I found out that there are usually no legitimate
documentation or even traces of a next-of-kin.

I must also let you know that this is not the first time funds like these
have surfaced in our sector. Since 1998, senior bank officials in countries
all around Europe have benefited millions of dollars in bonuses from
"unclaimed" funds. Hence, I believe that it will be to my interest to
transfer this fund worth. *(GBP 14, 700, 000.00) Fourteen Million Seven
Hundred Thousand British Pounds* to an account offshore.You may ask, "why do
I need your assistance? It is a matter of simple complicationsBank rules
prohibit employees from operating domiciliary accounts.

Therefore I appeal for your assistance in respect to the transfer of these
funds into your account. My intention is to forward your particulars as the
beneficiary of these unclaimed funds. I am quite confident and optimistic of
the fact that you are the only one I can trust.

Send me your private telephone and fax numbers upon receipt of this
proposal, if you genuinely want to assist and be a co-partner.I will proceed
to your country for onward percentage distributions and investment. I need
your full co-operation to make this work because the management is ready to
approve this payment to any foreigner, who has correct information of this
account, which I will give to you later immediately.

At the conclusion of this business, for your assistance, 40% of the total
amount will be accrue for you, 50% for me, while 10% will be for expenses
both parties might have incurred during the process of the transfer . All I
require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you and me from any breach of the law.

Thank you and have a blessed day. I implore you to maintain the absolute
confidentiality of this transaction.

Your earliest response is urgently awaited.
*

Best Regards,
Scott Wood,
Group Director
Investec Private Bank,
London United Kingdom
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam