419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transferred into your bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "unitedtrustbankplc@skymail.mn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "unitedtrustbankplc@skymail.mn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: UNITED TRUST BANK LONDON UK <unitedtrustlond_63621@msn.com>
Reply-To: <unitedtrustbankplc@skymail.mn>
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 05:55:12 +0000
Subject: REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF
(USD17,000.000.00)

>From The Management Of:
United Trust Bank,
80
Haymarket London SW1Y 4TE
London UK
http://www.utbank.co.uk

REF:- INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT
YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (USD17,000.000.00)

This is to notifying you
about this said fund. After due vetting and evaluation of your file that was
sent to us by the Nigeria Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign
Affair and Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This bank
has an instruction to see to the immediate release of the sum of
US$17,000,000.00(Seventeen Million United States Dollars Only). of your
Inheritance fund claim that has been holding since is transferred into your bank
Account from their Domiciliary Account with this Bank.

We were meant to
understand from our findings that you have been going through hard ways by
passing through difficulties to see to the release of your Seventeen Million
United States Dollars Only($17,000,000.00), which has been the handwork of some
miscreant elements from that Country.

The only thing required from you
is to obtain NON-RESIDENT CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE, which we are not asking you to
pay the fee to us here in UNITED KINGDOM as the Government in conjunction with
Ministry of Foreign Affair has paid us for handling/processing of your Payment
with other customers. We will help you to see that you obtain the mandatory
Non-Resident Clearance Certificate so that our bank will effect the Immediate
transfer of your Inheritance Fund Of ($17,000,000.00) into your designated bank
account.

We advice that you stop further communication with any
correspondence from anywhere concerning your funds, because you don't have to
pass through any difficult to receive your fund, as you have meet up with the
whole requirements.

We know your representatives in Nigeria or anywhere
will advice you to still go ahead with them, which will be on your own
risk.

Your Seventeen Million United States Dollars Only($17,000,000.00)
will reflect into your designated Bank Account within three (3) Bank working
days from the day you obtain this Non-Resident Clearance Certificate.

We
also advice you not to go through anybody again but only through this Bank if
you really want your fund.

Finally, you are advice to re-confirm your
below information ONLY to our Fund Remittance Dept with the below email address
in other to avoid wrongful transfer of your fund and also for easy
communication: ( unitedtrustbankplc@skymail.mn
)

1.Your Full Name:..............................
2.Your Contact
Address:....................
3.Direct Telephone
Number:..............................
4.Occupation:.............
5.Age:.................

Once
again, you are advice to direct your respond to our Fund Remittance Dept with
they below email address:( unitedtrustbankplc@skymail.mn )

Thanks and God
bless you.
Yours sincerely,

Dr. Arlester
Ricks.
Head Private Banking Section,
United Trust Bank
London UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam