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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: UNITED TRUST BANK LONDON UK <unitedtrust567unitedtrust567_2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <unitedtrustbankplc@skymail.mn>
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:41:49 +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 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,your immediate response is highly needed to enable us
commence for the transfer.

Congratulation to your inheritance fund.

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