419 scam: "ALLEN RUSSELL"<allen.russell@fcb.org> ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY

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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "ALLEN RUSSELL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fdcs.info@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2013 00:45:33 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY

FIRST CALIFORNIA BANK

3027 Townsgate Road, Suite 300

Westlake Village, CA 91361

Ref: FBC/PCHF/USA/UN/45329

ATTENTION.

RE: FUNDS PAYMENT AND TRANSFER ORDER

We provide prompt, professional and courteous service to our customers, delivered with uncompromising integrity. We provide a secure, motivated and professional environment for our employees. We deploy the capital entrusted to us to maximize shareholder value. We contribute to the growth and prosperity of our community by being a responsible business leader.

A payment of Ten Million Dollars (US$10, 000,000.00) has been approved in your name from the office of the presidency as your contract funds that as been over due for payment, but we have not heard from you since the approval to pay you.

Who is this Mr. Dalli to you? He has instructed us to cancel the payment approved in your name, and has given us another account to proceed with the transfer. He claims to be your next-of-kin beneficiary, and says you are dead.

Kindly help us to rectify this problem, by updating us if you authorized this man to cancel your payment of Ten Million Dollars (US$10, 000,000.00), so that we may know if to proceed with the transfer to his bank account or not.

You will be detailed more, and I will give you number to call to talk with me as soon as you respond to this email.

We hope you respond ASAP.

Wishing you all the best,

Mr. Allen Russell

FIRST CALIFORNIA BANK

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam