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:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "fundsremittancedepartment@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447700028258

Fraud email example:

From: CITIBANK OF LONDON UK <hazem.habbab@bayan-photo.com>
Reply-To: fundsremittancedepartment@admin.in.th
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:32:45 +0000
Subject: REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
(US$10,500,000.00)

CITIBANK OF LONDON UK
Promenade Level, Cabot Place East,
Canary Wharf, London, E144QS.
Tel: +44-770-002-8258
http://www.citibank.co.uk

Dear Valued Customer,

REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR
ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (US$10,500,000.00)

This is to notify you about this said fund.

After due vetting and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by
the Nigeria Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and
Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This bank has an instruction to see to the immediate release of the
sum of Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only
(us$10.5Million) of your Inheritance fund claim that has been holding
since is transferred into your bank Account from their Domiciliary
Account with this Bank.

We are made to understand from our findings that you have been going
through hard ways by passing through difficulties to see to the
release of your Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars Only (us$10.5Million), which has been delayed as result of
sabotage by some miscreant elements from that Country.

The only thing required from you is to obtain NON-RESIDENT CLEARANCE
CERTIFICATE, which we are not asking you to pay the fee to us here in
United Kingdom as the Nigeria Government have taken care of the
transfer handling/processing of your payment with other Customers. We
will help you to see that you obtain the mandatory Certificate from
the appropriate quarters, to enable us credit your account directly
via telegraphic transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and
send copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and your
bankers for confirmation.

For your information, you have to stop any further communication with
any correspondence from anywhere concerning your funds, because you
don't have to pass through any difficult to receive your fund, as you
have met up with the whole requirements.

We know that your representatives in Nigeria or anywhere will advise
you to still go ahead with them, which will be at your own risk.

Your Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only
(us$10.5Million) will reflect into your designated Bank Account within
three (3) Bank working days from the day you obtain this Non-Resident
Clearance Certificate.

We also advise you not to go through anybody again but only through
this Bank if you really want your fund.

Finally, you are advice to re-confirm your below information to our
Telegraphic Transfer Dept with the below email address in other to
avoid wrong transfer of your fund and also for easy communication: (
fundsremittancedepartment@admin.in.th )

Your Full Name:...........
Your Contact Address:.........
Occupation:.......
Age:............
Private Telephone:..............

Once again, you are advice to direct your respond to our Telegraphic
Transfer Dept with the above email address.

Please, accept my apology if you receive this letter in your spam
email is due to recent connection error here in England

Your urgent compliance will facilitate the transfer of your funds.

Congratulation to your inheritance fund.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Edward Hartford.
Senior Accounts Officer,
International Banking Unit, Citibank UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam