419 scam: Collins Paul <zaki_bongo71@sbcglobal.net> Dear sir,

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Collins Paul <zaki_bongo71@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: collinspaul01@aol.co.uk
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 05:07:01 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear sir,

Dear sir,

I am Mr Collins Paul,The Branch Auditor of CITIBANK, Plc, London UK. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June 1999, a German property magnate and also an oil consultant/contractor, Mr.Andreas Schranner made a numbered time (Fixed) deposited for twelve calendar months, valued at $25,500,000.00 (Twenty-five Million five hundred thousand Dollars) in my branch.

Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, that Mr.Andreas Schranner,DIED ON PLANE CRASH ACCIDENT WITH ALL THE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY, SON IN LAW AND GRAND CHILDREN WHO SUPPOSE TO BE THE NEXT OF KIN TO HIS ESTATE INCLUDING CASH AMOUNT. YOU ARE ADVISE TO TAKE A LOOK ON HOMEPAGE BELOW AS REPORTED BY BBC.:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Andreas Schranner, did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork.

This sum of $25,500,000.00 (Twenty-five Million five hundred thousand Dollars) is still sitting in the bank as unclaimed funds and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it. According to the laws of the country, at the expiration of 10 (TEN) years, The bank management will confiscate this account, And the amount of money as unclaimed bill and will be shared among the shareholder as dividend if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.Andreas Schranner so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not go on vain since we can of course make some donation funds out of the principal sum to the charity as a mark of remembrance to the deceased, I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and address so that an Attorney (lawyer) will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of a "WILL" and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world, which you will provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Auditor guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand and also I shall let you know how the percentage I will offer you for your assistance.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

I am waiting for your urgent reply.

Yours truly,

Mr Collins Paul.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam