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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 Peter Lamb" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <iainsmithclydesdalebnk@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 21.13.37 +0100
Subject: DID YOU AUTHORIZED MR SEAN BRADFORD CLAIM

CLYDESDALE BANK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
 
 
 
I know this letter will be a surprise one to you, my name is Mr Peter Lamb Senior Manager of Clydesdale Bank, London UK. In the course of our General Auditing and Account revision of the 1st quarter of the New Year 2014, we discovered that the Bank Accounts belonging to some Benefactors have been changed on the basis that the owners have died some time ago, or have given an authorization note of change of beneficiary data. (Deed Of Assignment).
 
 
After the investigations however, it was revealed that there are Foreigners who are collaborating with Retired Staffs and some commercial bank staffs to make these changes illegally without the knowledge of the beneficiary. And some persons whom we traced to your own is Mr. Sean Bradford who told the bank that you are dead, hence he has forwarded your Death Certificate and some documents of funeral service held for you so as to divert your fund to his private bank account.
 
 
My greatest surprise is that, Mr Sean Bradford tendered some Vital Documents which proved that you sent him for the Collection of the Funds. Honestly, it really baffles me that you took such decision without the consent of this bank. Here below are the Vital Document which he tendered to this Bank today in order to claim this fund:
 
 
1. LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION.
2. FUND RELEASE ORDER.
 
 
More So, below is the bank account details forwarded to us as the new account that will receive this whole of GBP£5.7 Million British Pounds that has already been  approved in your name by the European High Commission as one of the unpaid beneficiary. Your name/details were among the list of unpaid beneficiaries submitted to us for payment before we receive Mr. Sean Bradford order to stop the transfer.
Bank Name: Hang Seng Bank
Bank Address: 83 Des Veoux Road, Central-Hong Kong.
Account Name: Dr. Sean Bradford
Account Number: 235-325172-882
Branch Code: 024
Swift Code: Hasehkhh
 
 
For more clarification and to enable us stop Mr Sean Bradford transfer request, we need your immediate respond and provide the below details for easy communication.
 
Your full name..........
Contact address..............
Next of kin/beneficiary.........
Telephone…………..Cell and Fax....
Age…......Occupation..........
 
 
These details from you will help us reach a conclusion that you are not dead. Anything contrary to this claim will help us charge this man to court and prosecute him while your fund will be paid to you immediately without any further delay. You have to get back to us on time for us to commence legal proceedings against Mr. Sean Bradford and his accomplices. As soon as we confirm your details, our legal department will investigate Mr. Sean Bradford’s claim and he may face arrest if lying or trying to steal someone’s money.
 
 
Once again, did you in anyway give out your details to Mr. Sean Bradford or make him your next of kin? We decided to contact you via email to know if truly you authorized one Mr. Sean Bradford to Receive your fund?
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr Peter Lamb
Senior Mnager
Clydesdale Bank

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