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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: "REV STEVE GRANT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revstevegrant99@qq.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:55:11 -0800
Subject: RECONFIRMATION.

From the Desk of
REV. STEVE GRANT
(World Bank Representative Nigeria)
PAYING BANKERS
                                   SWIFT CREDIT CARD PAYMENT SYSTEM
Attention: ATM Card Beneficiaries.
Dear Friend,
I am STEVE GRANT ,a World Bank representative in Nigeria, going by series of  petition received from International  Body on the way your inheritance fund was handled by our  correspondence office .After  Extensive close door meeting with  Board of Directors  and other Stake  holders  in the  Government, Subcommittees  of the  House  Of Assembly  and the  House  of Rep , Federal  Republic of  Nigeria.
It  was  Resolved  and Agreed upon that your Hesitance   Fund  would  be  released on a  special method of payment , which tag  Name   Reads SWIFT CREDIT CARD This  method  of  payment   is  designed by the Government   to avert fraud   perpetration  or  stoppage of fund  by  Some  Agencies. Either Through Anti Terrorist Certificate or other certificates. This Swift Credit Card would be issued to you upon meeting with the Bank Requirement.
This  office,  has  Been Mandated to  take charge of the Issuance  of the  SWIFT  CREDIT CARD  .And  that your inheritance  payment file should be  passed to my desk for clarification .Upon Certification that your file is ok. His Office would direct you on how to receive your over due inheritance fund via SWIFT CREDIT CARD.
The SWIFT CREDIT CARD would be delivered to you via Courier. In the light of this aforementioned, you are required to furnish this office with the following information if different from the one we have above.
You’re Name:
Address:
Median Name:
You’re Next of Kin Name and your date of Birth:
Your telephone number and fax:
This  Information’s would be used in opening of an account  here .It's from here that the  ATM  would be used in  issuance of The SWIFT CREDITS  CARD in your  favor  with  the  Credit card  Number  and  all your information inserted into the card. Upon completion of this issuance of the Credit Card, It would be send to you via Courier to your residential Address.
Urgently furnish this office with your Contact information in order to reconfirm if it's in line with the one contained in our payment data. Be informed that your fund has been called back and it's now in suspense   Account here in Our Bank. A new Account has to be opened in your Name before the Swift Credit Card is issued.
 
 
Waiting for an urgent response.
Yours Faithfully,
REV STEVE GRANT
OPERATOR
PAYING BANKERS

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