419 scam: "Mr.Brian C.Hartzer."<hartzer@mail.com> I await your prompt reply.

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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:
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Brian C.Hartzer." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brianhartzer13@live.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:41:18 +0100
Subject: I await your prompt reply.

Ref:ABY/NRI-ACCT/7878256589/04.

I am Mr.Brian C.Hartzer.

The auditor and head of computing department of Royal Bank of Scotland Branch here in United Kingdom.

There is an account opened in this bank in 2003 and since my inception into office on 4th Jan 2013,I found this account and investigated deeply trying to contact the assigned next of kin and could not locate him or her. I also found that the the depositor of this funds was an American who lived in London for over 63Yrs. Nobody has operated on this account again after 2004. I took the courage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important claim In order to transfer out $20.2 (Twenty Million Two Hundred U.S Dollars).

After going through some old files, I discovered that if I do not Remit this money out urgently, it would be forfeited for nothing and the Royal Bank of Scotland management will divert the funds to their own accounts.

Please respond immediately I will use my position and influence to effect the legal approval and onward transfer of this funds into your account with appropriate clearance from foreign payment department. You will stand to get 40% while 60% will be for me. Kindly quote the reference (acct) numbers above when responding to this mail.

I will fill you in with further details upon your reply .

Sincerely yours,

Mr.Brian C.Hartzer.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam