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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: douglasbaloyi@easyinfomail.co.za
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 05:31:43 +0200
Subject: Urgent Fund Transfer

Harfield, Pretoria South Africa.
Tel: +27 76 314 1420
Fax: +27 11 507 6266
Email: dbaloyi@accountant.com

Attention: Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr. Douglas Baloyi, the Manager, Credit and Foreign Bills of ABSA BANK SOUTH AFRICA. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of our bank with account number :908-14-255-114 whose name is Andreas Schranner (Mr.), a German property magnate age 64, his wife Maria, 62, their daughter Andrea Eich, 38, her husband
Christian, 57, and their children Katharina, 8 and Maximilian, 10, all perished in the jet. [Concorde AF4590] With the whole passengers on-board on Monday, 31 July, 2000, 13:22 GMT 14:22 UK and for your perusal you can view this website below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Since the demise of this customer, I personally have 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$18.5M (Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which has been with our 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 as his next of kin. And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than eight years, because the money will be recalled to the Bank Treasury as “Unclaimed Fund” after this period.

In view of this I got your contact through a Trade Journal when I was making a research on a foreigner I will use in this great opportunity. For your assistant, I am willing to give you 25% of the total amount. Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the letter of application which you will Fill, Sign
and send back to our bank to enable us start this processing of this claim. 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 the smooth and easy transfer of this fund has been finalized, this transaction will be completed within Five (5) banking
days of receiving your response, after you apply to the bank as a “Relation” to the deceased.

When you receive this letter, kindly send me a Fax or an email through my personal/direct I.D Address: dbaloyi@accountant.com signifying your decision.

Please include your Private Tel/Fax Numbers for quick communication regarding this great opportunity that will definitely benefit both of us.

Yours Truly,

Mr. Douglas Baloyi.

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