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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Mr. Jim Gunner <mrselizabethpeters1965@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jimgunner1960@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2017 16:48:16 +0200
Subject: Best Wishes

Dear Friend,

I am Jim Gunner, a banker by profession from England, UK. I'm the Chairman Board Audit and Risk Committee in my bank. I have an urgent and very profitable business proposition for you that should be handled with extreme confidentiality and legitimately. I know this proposal will come to you as a surprise for the fact that we have not met before believing that transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive or worried but I can assure you that you will not regret been part of this mutual beneficial transaction.

SUBJECT: A deceased customer of our bank Mr. Barry, made a numbered time Fixed Deposit for twelve calendar months valued at £7.5 Million GBP (Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds Sterling Only, in my branch on May 14th, 2010.

Late Mr. Barry was a Consultant and contractor with the British Petroleum (BP).Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification in accordance with the Company policy to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month I sent a reminder and finally it was discovered from his contract employers British Petroleum (BP) that him, his wife and two children died in plane crash in the year 2012.

On my personal investigation, I found out that he died without making a Will and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I, therefore, made further investigations and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin or relations in the Deposit paperwork with the Bank.

This sum of £7.5 Million GBP I understand was kept in the bank for safekeeping for a contract that he intended to execute. No one will ever come forward to claim it and according to the Government Law as provided in section 129 sub 63(N), the United Kingdom Banking Edit of 1961 at the expiration of 5 years the money will revert to the ownership of the British Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin and beneficiary of late Mr. Barry as you bear the same surname so that the proceeds of this account valued at £7.5 Million GBP can be paid to you as his next of kin, so you and I can share this amount on a mutually agreed percentage of 50% for me 50% for you.

All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will be provided by me. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us to see this transaction through successfully with no risk involved. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Your most urgent response will be highly appreciated to avoid making further contacts.

Warmest Regards.

Jim Gunner
Chairman Board Audit and Risk Committee,
Unity Trust Bank Plc UK.
Tel: Reserved until I hear from you.


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