419 scam: "Settlement Dept."<personalizeddan@googlemail.com> Attention Scammed Victim

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "economic and financial crime commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- barrdanholbert78@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Settlement Dept." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrdanholbert78@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:54:16 +0100
Subject: Attention Scammed Victim

OFFICE OF THE FINANCIAL AUDITORS,
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT DEPT.
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX,LAGOS NIGERIA

Attention Scammed Victim

RE: SCAMMED VICTIM BENEFICIARIES. REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 06654 $1,000,000.00 USD ONLY.

This is to formally inform you that the Nigeria Government, British Government, US Government, Western Union/Money Gram and United Nations have set aside Five Hundred Million United State Dollars from the One Billion Dollars (These include cash and frozen assets) recovered from fraudsters with the help of the FBI, British Police, Economic and Financial Crime Commissions and United Nation Security Agents in London and USA to compensate every scam victims all over the world with Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$1,000,000.00) only.

This US$1,000,000=00 payment is approved to compensate those who has attempted or fallen victims of fraud by some imposters/fraudsters in Nigeria, London and other part of the World to help them start a new life knowing that most scam victim have committed suicide because they have no one to turn to for help. Hence we have decided to bring a solution to your problem by arranging your payment from any of accredited banks in US. This is the latest instruction as confirmed by the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in conjunction with US government.

Your particulars were mentioned by one of the Syndicates who were arrested By Economic and financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as one of their victims of the operations. You are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to any one for any reason what so ever as the U.S. secret service and EFCC is already on trace of the other criminals. So keep it secret till they are all apprehended. Other victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny and possible consideration. You can receive your compensations payments via ATM MASTER CARD AND OTHER MEANS.

Therefore, confirm to us your willingness to receive these funds (US$1,000,000.00) by sending us your full Name, address, direct telephone/Mobile number, your age, nationality and occupation to enable us send your cheque to you immediately. You are advised to contact Barr.Dan Holbert of the Financial Auditors International Credit Settlement Dept.on this email address: {barrdanholbert78@gmail.com} as soon as you receive this important message for further modalities and directives.

Yours Sincerely,

John Kennedy
(Secretary)
OFFICE OF THE FINANCIAL AUDITORS,
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT DEPT.
LAGOS NIGERIA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam