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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: Barrister Richard Sheppard <447629023559@bullworlduk.com>
Reply-To: barrsheppard1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 07:21:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Good Day





From: Barr Mr. Richard Sheppard
Account Auditor
Royal Bank of Scotland
Greeting,
 
I am writing to seek your consent to present you to our bank as a Beneficiary to the funds of my client who died in a plane crash. My client left behind Capital amount (US$15.7M) in the bank here where I work, only if you are interested. My name is Barrister Mr. Richard Sheppard. I was his account manager/ Family friend, legal/financial adviser. All documents involving his money in our bank is in my possession and that makes it easy for me to include your names as his legal and approved Beneficiary to the funds.
 
My main reason of contacting you is because Till date no body has come forward or put claim for the money in our bank and during my investigation, i found out that all his direct family where involved in the Plane crash. If our bank finds out that his account has no next of kin/beneficiary they will seize the money. Right now i need you collaboration sine you are from the same country with my late client and you also bears the same last name with him. If we use this coincidence as evidence, our bank will believe you are his relation and they will approve you as the beneficiary and the fund released to you without any delay.
 
Should you be interested to work with me in this project i can assure you that with my position here in our bank, I can make you his legal beneficiary and the next of kin to the money he deposited into our bank which will enable our bank to release the fund to you. Once the money has been released to you by our bank, I will immediately come down with my family to meet you for sharing. our sharing ratio will be 50% for you and 50% for me. I know this transaction is a capital intensive project but that shouldn't bother you. I will handle the documentary expenses until our bank grants the release of the fund to you as the beneficiary.
 
Kindly get back to me only if you are interested to work with me for more information and Guideline.
 
Regards,
Barr Mr. Richard Sheppard

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