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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC." <christo1205@tiscali.co.uk>
Reply-To: mrfrancis_christopher205@yahoo.it
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 18:57:10 -0700
Subject: REPLY.

ATTN: Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr Francis Christopher, in charge of Credit and Foreign bills
of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA).


I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank with account number
14-255-114 whose name is Bunten Wendy a citizen of United State Of America
who perished in a plane crash[Korean Air Flight 801] with the whole passengers
aboard on August 6,1997. And for your perusal you can view this web site:-http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list


Since the demise of this our customer, I personally has watched with keen
interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has
come to claim his funds of US$25.5M (Twenty Five Million Five Hundred Thoudsand
United States Dollars) which has been with my branch for a very long time.

On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the Next
of Kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin. And the banking ethics
here does not allow such money to stay more than eight years, because money
will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed after this period.

Inview of this I got your contact through a trade journal I will give you
30% of the total. Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax
or e-mail the application, bank's fax number and the next step to take. I
will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free and
that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer
can be finalized within five banking days, after you apply to the bank as
a relation to the deceased.

When you receive this letter. Kindly send me an e-mail signifying your decision
including your private Tel/Fax numbers and your contact address for quick
communication.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Francis Christopher.
credit and Foreign Bills Dept.
UBA, PLC.


___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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