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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: "RAND MERCHANT BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <randmerchant.bank@rocketmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2012 00:04:23 +0200
Subject: Re: Greeting From (RAND MERCHANT BANK)

RAND MERCHANT BANK
1 Merchant Place
Cnr Fredman Drive
& Rivonia Road
Sandton 2196
South Africa
 
 
 
Attn: Sir/Madam,
 
 
 
 
We are sending you this message directly from RAND MERCHANT BANK, based on the present meeting with the president of South Africa (President Jacob Zuma), This is to notify you that your Inheritance long over due funds has been approved for Release by President Jacob Zuma, he has issued a letter of authorization for the release and transferred of your Inheritance long over due fund valued US$3.5 Million (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Only) to be transferred into your bank account.
 
 
 
Note: the Letter of authorization has been signed by the President Jacob Zuma yesterday for the release of your long over due fund, to enable us proceed with the processing of your Inheritance long over due to be release and transferred into your bank account, you are to reconfirm your personal details such as listed below:
 
 
 
 
Your Full name.......................
Your Contact address..............
Your Telephone number...........
Your Fax number.....................
Your Age and Sex...................
Your Present Occupation.........
 
 
 
Above is the details needed from you to enable us proceed for the release and transferred of your long over due fund. You will be advice by our offshore paying bank in United States of America to present your banking details upon the receipt of your email.
 
 
 
Best Regards
 
 
Mrs. Rosemary Moore
Telex and Legal Department Manager
RAND MERCHANT BANK (RMB)
 

Anti-fraud resources: