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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: Mr.Alfonso Zapata <info@roncowash.com>
Reply-To: a.zapata@blumail.org
Date: 23 Sep 2011 11:44:17 +0200
Subject: RE: PERSONAL



Bill and Exchange Manager

Mr. Alfonso Zapata

Private Email: a.zapata@blumail.org

Private Fax: +34 917 692 656



Attention,



I am Mr. Alfonso Zapata, a staff of Banco Ing-Direct Madrid Spain. I have a confidential business proposal for you. There is this business opportunity here in our bank; which is an abandoned sum of 8.2M (Eight million Two Hundred Thousand Euros) that belongs to one of our foreign customer who died in 2002. I decided to contact you based on the fact that I will present you as the beneficiary.



Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting someone to come over and claim this money which is deposited in our security deposit safe vault. The management has been searching for a relative or member of the family to notify them about this deposit. But we have not been able to trace any members of his family. Since I have all the necessary information’s to this depositor, you can easily make a deal with me. This is a deal I am offering you and I want you to know that it requires only a matured mind to understand all I am saying and I believe you are matured enough which is the reason I am going further.



I decided to intimate you on this business proposition so that you will apply as the beneficiary to the deceased customer for the claim since nobody is coming for it and I don’t want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed funds or declared to the Spanish Government which they will confiscate it.



My colleague and I here in the bank is the only people that has knowledge about this transaction, we agreed that 50% of this money will be for you as foreign partner while 50% would be for my colleague and I here in the bank. There after I will visit your country for the sharing. When I receive your reply, I will furnish you with all the details of the procedure. Send me your private telephone number for easier communication.



There are practically no risks involved, the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. I plead with you on one issue; keep this transaction confidential and all the information between you and me, get back to me through e-mail or my personal fax for confidentiality.



Best Regards,

Mr. Alfonso Zapata

Private Email: a.zapata@blumail.org

Private Fax: +34 917 692 656





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