419 scam: "Mark Peters"<markpeters11@gmx.com> UNCLAIMED FUND

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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:

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:
- "million 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)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Peters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <markpeters4@gmx.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 06:47:57 -0000
Subject: UNCLAIMED FUND

I request for your quick help in this {DEAL} that will benefit both of us without any risk Involved either now or later. I am Mr. Mark Peters, a Chief Auditor in the International Remittance Department in one of the biggest bank in Europe. I have an amount in Excess of Fifty million Dollars ($50,000.000.00) only, which has been lying, in our suspense escrow account for safe keeping. For over 6 years plus now still unclaimed belonging to a "dead customer" Mr. John Paul Getty from United States of America who died on Apr. 17, 2003 after a brief illness in London Hospital (BBC News), Visit the web site below for confirmation;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/2956897.stm

If this money reaches 7 years, it will automatically move to the Bank Vault as "UNCLAIMED FUND" and the top officials at the bank will share the money amongst themselves. All I need from you now is to stand as the next of kin to the decease and have the Bank pay you this money as the next of kin/ beneficiary of the decease. Please if you are interested, kindly get back to me as quickly as possible to enable me make all the necessary arrangement towards the documentation that will make you the beneficiary of the fund.

After you might have receive the fund in your possession, the mode of sharing would be 30% of the total Sum for you and 5% to cover any cost of expenses incurred in the process of this transaction and the rest 65% will go to me and my colleagues when we come to your place to meet with you for sharing and disbursement of the fund.

Please send me your full name, address, direct phone number, age and occupation

I hope to hear from you urgently.

Best Regards,
Mr. Mark Peters

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam