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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Dmuller" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dmrbad@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:19:52 +0200
Subject: RE: FOR YOUR INFORMATION.

Hello,

Compliments of the day to you.
I am writing to you on a very important issue that requires your utmost attention. My name is D. Muller and I work with a major banking group in Switzerland.

The bank had conducted a standard process investigation in relation to matters Involving a client who had died interstate and nominated no next of kin / beneficiary to inherit the title (investment) made with our fiduciary firm. I was a part of the delegation of the bank that carried out the investigation. During the investigation we got confirmed and valid evidence that you are whom we seek. We had presented our findings to the bank's management because it was agreed that our findings and evidence were overwhelming.

But to my surprise, the bank's management has refused to officially call to your attention on this matter and have kept silent over it thus fueling my suspicion that some of those in management have a hidden agenda to keep this money to themselves as a practice I have seen before.
I am compelled to approach you confidentially to inform you of this matter and the issues around it as I feel you should know of this and claim what is yours. Frankly, I am not happy with what is happening in the bank and I am willing to confidentially guide and help you go about establishing this claim from the bank. I do not demand anything from you in return for this but will be happy with whatever you wish to show as gratitude when eventually you must have established your claim.

I have emphasized the word confidential because I wish to tread carefully with you on this so as not draw any witch-hunt on myself in the bank.

Now, I have every required information known to me that will help you and every step of the process will done in a legal manner. On receipt of a response from you, I will to furnish you with further details, documentations and advice. You can respond through this email dmrbadd@yahoo.com.hk

I hope to hear from you.

Yours truly,
Dieter Muller.


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