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:
- "transfer into your 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)
- "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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- demdavbyrd@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barclays Bank Plc, London" <judy@cosmic.com.tw>
Reply-To: demdavbyrd@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 18:59:41 -0500
Subject: Re: Authentication On How To Credit Your Account With The Sum of GB5, 800,
000.00.

Barclays Bank Plc,
1 Churchill Place,
London, E14 5HP, United Kingdom.

Dear Customer,

Re: Authentication On How To Credit Your Account With The Sum of GB5,800,000.00.

We at this bank wish to congratulate and inform you that after a skew review of your
Inheritance/Contract funds transfer released documents in conjunction with the
Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund assessment report, your payment
file was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of a part-payment GB?5,800,000.00
through their philosophical agreement with Barclays Bank PLC as compensation to your
designated bank account from their offshore account here with us.

The Audit reports given to us shows that you have been going through hard times by
paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds, which has been delayed by
some dubious officials, we therefore advice that you stop further communication with
any correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any money or fee
to Barclays Bank Plc to receive your funds as you have met up with the whole funds
transfer requirements which will go through all the legal procedure to enable free
hitch transfer into Your account.

The only thing required from you is to obtain the Non-Residential Clearance Form to
enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic wire transfer or through any
of our corresponding banks and send copies of the funds transfer release documents
to you and your bankers for confirmation and follow our directives, your funds will
be credited and reflect in your bank account within five (5) bank working days from
the day you obtain this Non-Residential Clearance Form.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification, you are adviced
to forward your full contact, addresses telephone and fax numbers for validate and
authentication to: Mr.Demetric Devon Byrd, Customer's Service Banking Division.
E-mail Address: demdavbyrd@gmail.com

Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Marcey Carl
Head, International Banking Division.
Barclays Bank Plc, London.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam