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:

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 united state 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: THOMAS MOORE PRIVATE BANK <fundstransfertelexdept@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fundscreditcontroldept@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:59:39 +0000
Subject: POWER OF ATTORNEY RECEIVED ON YOUR BEHALF FROM ONE MR. JOACHIM WALTER
ALFRED / CLAIMING THAT YOU ARE DEAD

Dear Valued Customer

*RE: POWER OF ATTORNEY RECEIVED ON YOUR BEHALF FROM ONE MR. JOACHIM WALTER
ALFRED / CLAIMING THAT YOU ARE DEAD*

The Management Board of the Thomas Moore Private Bank Ghana Branch, Write
to notify you that we just received a Power of Attorney, from one (Mr.
Joachim Walter Alfred) of Strasse 9 E, DE-70376 Stuttgart / Germany on your
behalf.

The Power of Attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by (MR.
JOACHIM WALTER ALFRED) This gentleman claimed to be your representative,
and this Power of Attorney stated that you are dead, and he brought a new
account to replace your information's in other to claim your fund of
US$3,000,000.00 (Three Million United State Dollars). below is the New
Bank Account.

Bank Name: Wirecard Bank AG
Bank Address: Einsteinring 35,DE -85609 Aschheim Bavaria Germany
Account Number: 10004396
Swift Code: WIREDEMMXXX
IBAN NO: DE77512308000010004396
Account Name: Joachim W. A. Seeger

But we wanted to confirm if actually this is true and hence decided to
write to your email address for confirmation which after 24Hours and there
is no response from you concerning this issue of Power of Attorney, we will
then believe that you are DEAD and go on with the transfer.

The Power of Attorney also stated that you suffered and died of a THROAT
CANCER, You are therefore given 24hrs to confirm the truth in this
information, If you are still alive, You are to contact us back
immediately, Because we work 24hrs just to ensure that we monitor all the
activities going on in regards to the transfer of beneficiaries Inheritance
and contract payment.

If proved otherwise by you that you are not dead, And anything contrary to
this claim will help us charge (Joachim W. A. Seeger) to court and
prosecute him while your fund will be release to you Immediately without
any further delay.

Your urgent response will be appreciated and welcomed.

Yours in service,

Thanking you in Anticipation .

Mr. Arnold Henderson,
Auditing and Accounting Unit,Foreign
Operations Department Thomas Moore
(ONLINE BANKING)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam