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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 Alain Charles." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alaincharlesqcc@mail2broker.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2013 15:30:31 -0800
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY BY EMAIL.

Hello,
 
I have contacted you because I have carried out research into a dormant account of a
 
deceased client at the financial institute where I presently audit its accounts; here in the
 
United Kingdom and the client has no heirs.The account has a significant amount of money in
 
it. An account is judged to be dormant if there has been no activity in it, or contact with
 
the client,for 15 years. Normally, account holders lose contact due to death without leaving
 
a will and there's no known heir to inherit. The treasury department receives the unclaimed
 
money unless a previously unknown distant relative comes and puts a claim on it; which is
 
usually within a limited time frame.
 
The United Kingdom’s Treasury Department receives over ?10bn every year from unclaimed
 
estates; forgotten funds; abandoned shares and dormant accounts and some of it could be ours
 
if we can work together as I can provide all relevant documents and information. We could
 
present you as the next of kin to deceased, as laid out in section 46 of the Administration
 
of Estates Act of 1925 (with subsequent amendments) if you agree to work with me.Late Rafik
 
Bahaa Edine Hariri (November 1, 1944 - February 14, 2005),married to Nazek Audi Hariri, was
 
a Lebanese self-made billionaire and business tycoon, and was five times Prime Minister of
 
Lebanon(1992-1998 and 2000-2004)before his last resignation from office on October 20,
 
2004.The late Rafik Hariri died on February 14, 2005 when explosives equivalent to around
 
300 kg of C4 were detonated as his motorcade drove past the Saint George Hotel in the
 
Lebanese
capital,for more information please log on to
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafik_Hariri]
 
I will need to enter into an agreement with you, which will cover the disbursement aspect of
 
funds. Furthermore, you will have to  sign a consent
form that gives the lawyer power of attorney to represent you at the probate office (for the
 
Procurement of the Grant of Probate). The amount in question
currently stands at six million seven hundred and fifty-nine thousand British Pounds
 
Sterling only.At the closure of this transaction, 35% of the total funds will be yours,50%
 
for me and 15% will be set aside for expenses both of us might occur during the
 
transaction.So, if you would like to team up with me discreetly to secure these funds for
 
ourselves, please have your full information sent to me which include,full name, address,
 
age, occupation and contact number(s).
 
I await your careful considered answer as when we proceed we cannot stop half way, as this
 
is one in a life time opportunity to go big.
 
 
Regards,
 
Mr. Alain Charles.
 
 
***************************************************************************
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Warning:
You should carry out your own virus check before opening any attachment.
Alain & Co Auditors UK accepts no liability for any loss or damage, which
may be caused by software viruses or interception or interruption of this email.
 
Email Confidentiality Note:
The information contained in this email is private and/or privileged. This
email is intended to be read or used only by the person to whom it is
addressed. If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient they
are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, publication or
copying of this email is prohibited. If you receive this email in error,
please notify us and/or delete it. Thank you.
 
A list of our members' names is available for inspection at our Registered
Office. We use the word partner to refer to a member of the Alain & Co
Auditors UK or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and
qualification.

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