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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • victorpeters2@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Victor Peters" <victorpeter17@mailbox.hu>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 02:52:49 +0100
Subject: Urgent Inquiry


FROM: THE DESK OF MR. VICTOR U. PETERS
Manager: International Monitoring Unit (CBN)
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
+234-12161983

ATTN: BENEFICIARY,

WE WRITE TO INQUIRE FROM YOU IF YOU DID SEND SOMEBODY FROM SWITZERLAND MR
SCHEMIRLT AND SOME LONDON REPRESENTATIVE MRS TESSY GREEN, MR FOWLER DEAN TO
MAKE CLAIM ON YOUR APPROVED INHERITANCE FUND.

TODAY AT ABOUT 9.00 AM NIGERIA TIME, MR SCHEMIRLAT WAS AT THE BANK SAYING
THAT YOU HAVE SENT THEM TO MAKE CLAIM ON YOUR BEHALF. I INITIALLY INSTRUCTED
FOR THE RELEASE OF THE FUND TO THEM AS THEY CAME WITH SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS
COVERING THE FUNDS.

BUT ON CROSS CHECKING YOUR FILE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BANK DETAILS THEY
PRESENTED WAS DIFFERENT BANK ACCOUNT AND THE BENEFICARY OF THE ACCOUNT THE
BROUGHT IS CHANGORI AND SANAYI THAT'S MAKE US TO SUSPECT THEM, THIS IS A
SERIOUS MATTER IN THE BANK NOW AND WE HAVE A MANDATE TO RELEASE THIS FUND TO
YOU.

NOW WE HAVE REQUESTED THEM TO FORWARD A POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM YOU,
INFORMING THE BANK OF THE CHANGE IN ACCOUNT DETAILS WERE THE FUNDS WILL BE
TRANSFERED TO. THIS THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO
COME BACK IN THREE DAYS TIME, THIS IS TO ENABLE US CONTACT YOU AND VERIFY
HOW GENUINE THESE TWO PEOPLE ARE TO YOU, THOUGH THEY PROMISED TO PRODUCE THE
POWER OF ATTORNEY ON THEIR NEXT VISIT TO THE BANK.

I HAVE DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO CONTACT YOU AND ASCERTAIN THE TRUE POSITION IN
OTHER TO AVOID REMITTING THESE FUNDS INTO A WRONG ACCOUNT.

BELOW IS THE BANKING CORDINATE THEY PRESENTED FOR THE WIRE.

Bank Name: HSBC-NEW YORK
BAKIRKOY CARSI BRANCH
SWIFT: HSBCTRIX
FINAL CREDIT TO: OZGE ORME TEKSTIL
SANAYI VE TIC. LTD. STI
ACCOUNT NO USD: 814-1013037-773-01

COULD YOU PLEASE CONFIRM MATTERS BEFORE WE START TAKING LEGAL ACTION, BUT IF
THEY ARE FROM YOU, KINDLY GIVE THEM THE POWER OF ATTORNEY TO THAT EFFECT?

Send your response to : victorpeters2@yahoo.co.uk

THANKS.

MR. VICTOR U. PETERS
International monitoring unit (CBN)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam