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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. DANIEL DICKSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <natwestlondon44@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 May 2022 19:25:49 +0200
Subject: RE: KINDLY READ THIS MAIL AND RESPOND IMMEDIATELY

                  NATWEST BANK PLC
           250 BISHOPSGATE, LONDON, EC2M 4AA.
                                  UNITED KINGDOM
THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Dear Sir,
RE: THIS LETTER OF INQUIRY DEMANDS YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLY
This is the NatWest Bank writing this mail to you based on the report we received couple of days ago. Over the past few years, we thought that you have received your outstanding approved fund payment but surprisingly, we discovered that the fund is still unpaid to you. This is ridiculous and unbelievable.
In our further investigation/inquiry, we were told that you died from a vital accident hence some other people are trying to claim the fund on your behalf thereby causing confusion, discrepancies and irregularities in releasing the funds to them because you never informed us to release the funds to any person.
With all due respect to you, this office deems it absolutely necessary to contact you through your email at least to ascertain the truth about this information.
*******   Please, confirm to us if you are dead or alive? And furthermore, did you issue any Power of Attorney to Mr. Dave Gardner to receive the funds on your behalf?
Sir, If you are still alive do kindly respond to us with immediate effect but if we could not hear from you within 48 hours of sending this important message to you, it will be concluded that the information we received from the gentleman is true and we shall release the funds to Mr. Dave Gardner  of the United States of America as your next of kin and now the authorized beneficiary of the funds.
This fund is long overdue and must be paid to you with immediate effect when we hear from you therefore your prompt response will be highly appreciated.
Yours respectfully,
MR. DANIEL DICKSON
NatWest Bank PLC
 
 

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