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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: "Vietnam Prosperity Bank" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <accountant@vietnamprobankvn.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:03:25 -0000
Subject: Ref: About Your Payment

Attention:
 
 
Sir,
 
 
REF: CASH PAYMENT VIA OUR ONLINE SECURED PLATFORM VALID AT $35,000,000.00 USD.
 
 
In pursuant to the immediate transfer of your overdue fund, be informed your funds arrived at our bank today and have been placed in an escrow account pending the actual transfer to you via our secure online platform.
 
 
In line with the laid down rules and regulations as stipulated by the Asia United Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Bank, you are advised to open an offshore online account in your name with our bank where your fund would be deposited into for onward transfer to you.
 
 
Following the above, it is expedient you open an online offshore account with our bank immediately where this fund would be moved into, for you to directly transfer the same out yourself to any account of your choice without the interference from any angle.
 
 
To kick start the process, you are hereby required to reconfirm your full information such as, your full names, direct telephone/cell numbers, contact address, age, occupation and a valid identification as the standard requirement for opening of an offshore online account.
 
Upon the receipt of your full details and permission to go ahead, I shall commence with the process of setting up your offshore online account where your fund would be deposited, for you to have complete access to transfer your funds and transfer the same out directly by yourself.
 
 
Finally, we apologize for any inconveniences this may cost you but you must understand this has nothing to do with us but as to do with the international policy in the transfer of large sums of funds across countries.
 
 
We are looking forward to your earliest response.
 
 
Yours Faithfully,
MR. PHAN DINH PHUONG
Vietnam Prosperity Joint-Stock Commercial Bank
Hanoi, Vietnam

Anti-fraud resources: