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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: "DOUGLAS RICHARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <douglasrichard1012@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2017 04:09:52 +0200
Subject: URGENT REPLY

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY DIRECT ACCOUNT
 
 
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION VALUED AT (US$20.5 MILLION)
 
It is my modest obligation to write you this letter in regards to the authorization of your owned payment through our most trusted financial institution Department of Treasury Direct Account (DOTDA)
 
 
I am DR. DOUGLAS RICHARD, the Director Foreign Remittance Unit Department of Treasury Direct Account. The Nigerian Government, in conjunction with the British Government, United States GOVERNMENT, WORLD BANK/IMF and the UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION on foreign payment matters, has empowered our bank after much consultation and consideration, to handle all foreign fund payments and release them to their appropriate beneficiaries account with the help of a representative from Federal Reserve Bank.
 
As the newly appointed/accredited International Paying Bank, we have been instructed by the World Governing Bodies, together with the Committee on International Debts and the Board of Foreign Winnings, Inheritance and Contract Review Panel, to release your overdue funds with immediate effect. With this exclusive Vide Transaction No: WHA/NIG/2015 and Transfer Allocation No: ICBPLC/X44/701LN/UBA/0X6, Password: 339001, Pin Code: 78789, Certificate of Merit No: 113, Release Code No: 0809; Immediate Department of Treasury Direct Account Telex Confirmation No: -110568: Secret Code: XXTN012. Having received these vital payment numbers, you are instantly qualified to receive and confirm your payment with the United Nations immediately within the next 48hrs.
 
Be informed that we have verified your payment file as directed to us, and your File is next on the list of our outstanding fund beneficiaries to receive their payment before the end of this second term of the year 2017. Be advised that because of too many funds beneficiaries due for payment at this second quarter of the year, you are entitled to receive the sum of Twenty Million five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$20.5M) only and to facilitate the process of this transaction, please kindly re-confirm the following information below:
 
 
1) Your full Name:
2) Your Full Address:
3) Phones, Fax and Mobile No:
4) Profession, Age and Marital Status:
5) Copy of any valid form of your Identification:
6) Your banking details where you want Director of Telex and Wire Department to transfer your approved fund.
 
 
Upon the receipt of the above mentioned information, your payment will be processed and released to you without delays. Be also informed that you are required to discontinue further communication with any other person(s), office(s), Ministry or any financial institution to avoid complication which may lead to suspend your fund transfer. You are required to provide the above information for the transfer to take place through Bank to Bank Remittance directly from our BANK. Your prompt response to the above directive is highly imperative and indicates if you want your fund to program into ATM MASTER CARD in case if you do not want Bank to Bank Wire Transfer {KTT}.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
DR. DOUGLAS RICHARD,
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY DIRECT ACCOUNT

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