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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- ",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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "offshore account" (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.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- fundsremittancepartment@aol.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Citibank International Plc
Reply-To: <fundsremittancepartment@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2015 18:14:17 +0100
Subject: REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (US$10, 500,
000.00)

Citibank International Plc ,
14th Floor Citigroup Centre,
Canada Square Canary,
Wharf London E14 5LB
United Kingdom.

Dear Valued Customer,

REF: - INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF (US$10,500,000.00)

This is to notify you about this said fund.

After due vetting and evaluation of your file that was sent to us by the Nigeria Government in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This bank has an instruction to see to the immediate release of the sum of Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only (us$10.5Million) of your inheritance funds claim that has been holding since is transferred to your designated bank account from their Offshore Account with this bank.

We are made to understand from our findings that you have been going through hard ways by passing through difficulties to see to the release of your Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only (us$10.5Million), which has been delayed by some dubious officials.

The only thing required from you is to obtain NON-RESIDENT CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE which we are not asking you to pay the fee to us here in United Kingdom as the Nigeria Government have taken care of the transfer handling/processing of your payment with other Customers. We will help you to see that you obtain the mandatory Certificate from the appropriate quarters, to enable us credit your account directly via telegraphic transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of the funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.

For your information, you have to stop any further communication with any correspondence from anywhere concerning your funds, because you don't have to pass through any difficult to receive your fund, as you have met up with the whole requirements.

We know that your representatives in Nigeria or anywhere will advise you to still go ahead with them but on your own risk.

Should you follow our directives, your Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only (us$10.5Million) will be credited and reflect into your designated Bank Account within three (3) Bank working days from the date we receive the document.

We also advise you not to go through anybody again but only through this Bank if you really want your fund.

For further details and assistance on this Remittance Notification, kindly forward your

FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS:
OCCUPATION and AGE:

Directly to our Telegraphic Transfer Dept through this email address as follows: ( fundsremittancepartment@aol.co.uk )

Please, accept my apology if you receive this letter in your spam email is due to recent connection error here in England

Your urgent compliance will facilitate the release of your fund.

Congratulations in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Edward Hartford.
Payment Coordinator.
International Banking Unit, Citibank UK.

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam