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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: "Mr. John Kwesi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <approveletteroffice@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:37:47 -0700
Subject: Be Inform

Attn: Beneficiary,

In the course of our General Auditing and Account revision of this FIRST quarter of the year 2012, we discovered that the Bank Accounts belonging to some Benefactors have been changed on the basis that the owners have died some time last year or have given out an authorization note of change of data.

After the investigations however, it was revealed that there are some bank officers who are collaborating with Retired Staffs and corrupt Attorneys to make these changes illegally without the knowledge of the Bonafide Benefactors. Reports of our investigation show clearly that while these men subject you to continuous upfront payments, they were equally making plans to divert your fund.

The bank account below was discovered in the system as the account submitted by you for the receipt of the fund.

Bank: Hang Seng Bank
Bank Address: 83 Des Veoux Road, Central - Hong Kong
Account Name: Mr Robin Steven
Account Number: 235-325172-882
Bank Code: 024
Swift Code: HASEHKHH

But we wanted to confirm if actually you instructed this and hence decided to call and write to you. If proved otherwise by you that you did not instruct this change, please forward to us all the related Benefactors particulars including your Telephone number, contact address. Copy of your ID and your real bank account information, these details from you will help to assist us reach a conclusion that you actually did not instruct this change.

Please Note: To help us fish this people out any where they are, this massage should not be forwarded to them, Upon verification of the information you may submit today, We shall instruct for an unconditional release of your fund. While we work to release this fund to you, we equally advise you to stop any further communication with these men and make no more payment to them. We hope you will not hamper the smooth conduct of these processes.

Yours in Service,

Mr. John kwesi

Head Auditor.


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