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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: official Notice <official-notice@outlook.com>
Reply-To: simmolrichard@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 2014 18:28:54 -0400
Subject: Attention!!!

Dear Sir/Madam

My name is Simmoll Richards, A Chartered Management Accountant and an
External Auditor for financial institutes in England. I currently work
with a team of external auditors who are retained to audit financial
activities in the entire British Isles.

I may have to trouble your sense of personal achievement and reward for
an opportunity properly taken advantage of. In the course of a routine
audit of our books last quarter, I discovered some investment accounts
that have been dormant for over eleven years.

Most of the accounts belong to a single beneficiary. I wish to notify
you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of
$4,500,000.00 (Four million five hundred thousand united states
dollars)in the intent of the deceased depositor who died intestate and
as such, no next-of-kin has come forward all these years to lay claim to
the investment.( Names now withheld for security reasons ) Since this
is our second letter to you.

We contacted you because you bear the same last name with the deceased
investor/depositor and therefore we can present you as the beneficiary
to the inheritance since there is no written will from our late
investor. Our services aim to provide you with a complete service as we
are prepared to provide you with all the documents
required by the holding Bank to enable them release this inheritance
funds to you . we can secure the funds in this bank account for
ourselves instead of allowing it transmit as “unclaimed funds” into the
Treasury of the Government of the United Kingdom.

All the papers work required will be processed in your acceptance of
this deal as we are prepared to offer you 40%,50% for us,while 10%
should be given to any Orphanage Home.

we request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance via
email.(simmolrichard@outlook.com)

Your prompt response is highly imperative.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Simmoll Richards

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