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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: Charles Rettig <ortonryan83@gmail.com>
Reply-To: charlesrettig@naver.com
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2022 19:58:56 +0100
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

Mr Charles Rettig.
Director, Financial Services Regulation Committee

Hello

We are not sure you received our previous message but we wish to use
this medium to officially inform you again that following the ongoing
review of all unclaimed and delayed funds by the United Nations and
the World Bank to cushion the effect of COVID19, your payment file was
forwarded to our office for immediate payment of your long delayed
funds starting with a first transfer with reference No. WBC/LU-14GN,
to your bank account. However, we are surprised to receive another
application this morning from your representative, Mr. Denis Paul,
stating that you authorized him to transfer the funds to another bank
account in Switzerland and that you were recently involved in an auto
accident and cannot walk right now.

Could you please confirm immediately, your relationship with Mr. Denis
Paul and also, confirm if the bank account in Switzerland as shown
below is now your new bank account information to receive your funds
this week from our paying bank.

CREDIT SUISSE, CH-8038 ZÃœRICH, SWITZERLAND
ACCOUNT NO:5018 1448 1308
IBAN: CH19 0483 5018 1448 1308 1
SWIFT CODE: CRESCHZZ80A

Kindly reply today by email with your telephone number to confirm this
information to avoid wrong transfer of your funds, so that we can
proceed with the transfer to your correct bank account as scheduled.

Yours sincerely,

Charles Rettig
Director, Financial Services Regulation Committee

Anti-fraud resources: