419 scam: SCOTLAND YARD POLICE UK <info@newscotlandyard.com> FROM THE SCOTLAND YARD POLICE LONDON. DO NOT IGNORE THIS MESSAGE AS IT IS A GRE

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024091619 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: SCOTLAND YARD POLICE UK <info@newscotlandyard.com>
Reply-To: <newscotlandyard@scotlandmail.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:44:44 +0100
Subject: FROM THE SCOTLAND YARD POLICE LONDON. DO NOT IGNORE THIS MESSAGE AS IT IS A GREAT WARNING TO YOU.

ATTN:Sir/Madam

This is the fraud investigating international police (Scotland Yard Police),attached to the United Nations international police unit LONDON.In conjunction with the FBI,CIA,EFCC NIGERIA and other internet crime fighting agencies around the world.

Please be informed that we have just arrested the people who defrauded you through online winning,inheritance transfer and contract payments. We scrutinized their data through the Western Union database here in the UK and was able to apprehend some of them. We have frozen there asset and hence handover to the court for prosecution.

According to the UK Supreme Court Requisition Order, we were authorize to refund back 50% of their seized asset to you as part of the compensation to victims of fraud.

To administer the process, the 50% refund is totaling at ($1,500,000 USD) and it shall be paid back to you through our Authorized payment bank YORKSHIRE BANK London.All you need to do is, forward your full Name and Address and Telephone Number to:

Bank Information Centre:

NAME OF THE BANK: YORKSHIRE BANK, LONDON
NAME OF WHO TO CONTACT: Hans Clarence (Director of telex department)
E-MAIL ADDRESS OF THE BANK: ( info@yorkshire-online-bank.co.uk)
TELE: +44-702-409-1619

They will activate your payment and instruct YORKSHIRE BANK to effect the payment to you. You're advice to halt any further communication with anyone promising you any fund from anywhere as further investigation is still in progress.

Best regards,

Mr. Edward Mason
Scotland Yard Police London

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam