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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: "Standard trust Bank plc" <inquiry@onlinebankingworld.com>
Reply-To: inquirystandardtrustbank@inmail24.com
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 00:05:36 +0000
Subject: INQUIRY:

Dear Friend,

We are conducting a standard process investigation on
behalf of Standard Trust Bank (STB) PLC, the international
Banking conglomerate. This investigation involves a client
who shares the same surname with you and also the
circumstances surrounding investments made by this client
at STB Republic, the Private Banking arm of STB.
The STB Private Banking client died interstate and
nominated no successor in title over the investments made
with the bank. The essence of this communication with you
is to request you provide us information/comments on any or
all of the four issues:
1) Are you aware of any relative/relation who shares your
same name, whose last known contact address was Lagos Nigeria?
2) Are you aware of any investment of considerable value
made by such a person at the Private Banking Division of
STB Bank PLC?
3) Born on the 29th October 1930.
4) Can you establish beyond reasonable doubt your
eligibility to assume status of successor in title to the
deceased?
It is pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you
are familiar with this personality that we may put an end
to this communication with you and our inquiries
surrounding this personality.
You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing
you with more detailed information at this point.
Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford
us the opportunity to close this investigation.

Thank you for accommodating our inquiry.

Mr. Dennis Fawaz


Anti-fraud resources: