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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: "Richard Billings" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <richardbillings1950@googlemail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:33:39 +0100
Subject: Please read and get back

Dear Sir/Madam,

This email must come to you as a surprise, but I believe that it takes just a contact for people to meet and become great friends and business partners. This is a personal and private letter directed to you and I request that it be treated as such.

My name is Richard Billings, a Retiree. I was the personal Financial Advisor to the late Eng. Johan Meyer, an American hereafter referred to as 'My late Client'. He was a successful Businessman here in The United Kingdom but died in a car crash along with his immediate family on the 7th of October 2000. Shortly after his death I was directed by his bank to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimant / beneficiary of his fixed deposit account with the bank valued at £7.5 Million Great Britain Pounds (Approximately 12 Million US Dollars). I tried but all such efforts were to no avail. I also sought the assistance of the Embassy of the United States here in London in locating any of his relatives without any success.

Knowing that a proceeding for confiscation of this fund by the Government in line with existing laws will be initiated if no Next of Kin came forward to claim the fund by 7th of October 2010, and considering the amount of fund involved, I decided to urgently search for a credible and trustworthy Foreigner to partner with in diverting this fund. Do note that I will be there to guide you every step of the way. I propose that the total fund will be shared 50/50 between you and me at the conclusion of this deal.

To commence the process of claim/transfer of this fund to your designated bank account, you need firstly signify your interest by contacting me via e-mail, and then I will furnish you with complete details on gaining your confidence. Rest assured that this proposal is Risk-free as all procedure will be legally followed. I also have original copies of the deposit documents needed to add credence to the claim. They were entrusted with me by the late Johan Meyer days after making the fixed deposit, so you need not entertain any fears. Do note that successful transfer of the Fund to your nominated account can be achieved within 14 Banking days of signifying your interest. Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please, include your Private and confidential Phone number (preferably Mobile) in your reply.

Best regards,

Richard J. Billings

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