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:
- ",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)
- "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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. RAYFORD PACA" <rayfordpaca2745@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <rayfordpaca237@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 18:25:51 +0100
Subject: RE: CLAIMS COUNTER ON YOUR PAYMENT! DID YOU AUTHORIZED (MR. WINFRED
HERBRUGER LEMUS) TO CLAIM YOUR FUND U.S. $ 1.5MILLION?

FROM: MR. RAYFORD PACAPayment Co-coordinator InternationalBanking & Remittance Operations Dept.Standard Chartered Bank Zambia Plc.Lusaka, Zambia.
Dear Valued Customer.
RE: CLAIMS COUNTER ON YOUR PAYMENT! DID YOU AUTHORIZED (MR. WINFRED HERBRUGER LEMUS) TO CLAIM YOUR FUND U.S. $1.5MILLION?
First and foremost, let me start by introducing myself; I am (Mr. Rayford Paca). Chairman of the Board of Directors, Standard Chartered Bank Zambia Plc Lusaka Branch. I write to intimate you as follows:-
Following the ongoing review of your funds transfer schedule for your Government compensation payment amount of U.S. $1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars). We did Received an application from one (MR. Winfred HERBRUGER Lemus). of Republic Of Guatemala, Central America. Requesting for a change in the Beneficiary contact information and Designated bank account.
Please confirm this information urgently. Did you ask (Mr. Winfred Herbruger Lemus). to claim your Fund U.S $1.5Million? As a matter of urgency get back to us within 24Hours before things go wrong. Because (MR. WINFRED HERBRUGER LEMUS). Have presented a "Power of Attorney" duly signed by you in which it was clearly stated that due to some inevitable circumstances beyond your control (ILL HEALTH) that you will not be able to claim the approved Government Compensation Payment yourself, thus appointing him to act on your behalf ?
NOTE: that All transfer documents have been forwarded to the office of the Minister for Finance for final endorsement in your favor and are mandated to be concluded in a few days from now.
If proved otherwise by you that you are not (ILL), please forward to us all the related Benefactors particulars including your Telephone Number, Contact Address. These details from you will help to assist us reach aconclusion that you are not (ILL).
It is important to inform you that at many times in the past, FAKE CLAIMERS have persuaded us to transfer Funds into their account and after we released Funds to their account, another person will send application to this office requesting payments of the same Funds hence, we are being very careful these days.
Your urgent response will be appreciated and welcomed. The sooner you reply, the better for you.
This message is meant for beneficiary as mentioned above and not for public View.
NOTE THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT PHONE CALLS FROM Beneficiaries. You are only allowed to communicate to us via Email.This is for the protection of the Concerned Funds under our custody.
Yours truly,Mr. Rayford PacaChairman of the Board of DirectorsStandard Chartered Bank (Zambia) Plc.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam