419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- michaelharte4@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Michael Harte" <relations_natewestbk@wss-id.org>
Reply-To: michaelharte4@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:32:38 -0400 (AST)
Subject: LETS WORK TOGETHER WITH TRUST AND TRANSFER
=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A320=2C000=2C000.00_POUNDS?=

Hello!

Although you might be apprehensive about my email as we have never met
before. I am Mr. Michael Harte, a Banker,Head Of Operations with (NATWEST
BANK PLC) Leicester branch here in UK. There is the sum of £20,000,000.00
currently in my branch,there were no beneficiary stated concerning these
funds which means no one would ever come to claim it.

That is why I ask that we work together,I will be pleased to work with you
as trusted person and see that the fund is transfered out of my Bank into
another Bank Account. Once the funds have been transfered to your
nominated Bank account we shall then share it in the ratio of 50% for me,
50% for you.Your urgent response is been awaited as this is an opportunity
of a life time for both of us.

Here is my email address: michaelharte4@yahoo.com.hk
Mr.Michael Harte.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam