419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "clearance permit" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "offshore 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- veronicasamuel@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Standard Chartered Bank" <info@standardcharteredbank.com>
Reply-To: veronicasamuel@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:23:14 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Authentication to Credit Your Account With £3,800,
000.00 POUNDS

Standard Chartered Bank
International Banking
PO Box 33244, 54 Jermyn Street, London
SW1Y 6WL, United Kingdom

Dear Customer,

Re: Authentication to Credit Your Account With £3,800,000.00 POUNDS

We the Management of Standard Chartered Bank wish to congratulate and
inform you that after the thorough review of your Contract Funds Transfer
release documents in conjunction with the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund Assessment Report, your payment file was forwarded to us for
immediate transfer of a part-payment of £3,800,000.00 POUNDS to your
designated bank account from their offshore account with us.

The audit report(s) given to us, shows that you have been going through
hard times to see to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by
some dubious officials.

We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay to the
bank any fee to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds
transfer requirements.

The only thing required from you is to obtain the Funds Clearance Permit
to enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic transfer or
through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of the funds
transfer release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.

Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and reflect
in your bank account within five (5) bank working days from the day you
obtain this Funds Clearance Permit.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification, kindly
forward your

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
PROFESSION/OCCUPATION:
DIRECT TELEPHONES/FAX:
COUNTRY:

Directly to my private E-mail: veronicasamuel@hotmail.co.uk or
veronica.s@blumail.org

Yours truly,
Mrs. Veronica Samuel
International Banking
Standard Chartered Bank
United Kingdom

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam