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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: "press.sec@outlook.com" <press.sec@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2023 11:52:02 +0000
Subject: Re: You Have (1) Important Message!


I am Mr. Bradley L Duchesneau, serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of a prominent financial security company. We specialize in providing a secure haven for the funds of high-net-worth individuals and corporate entities, both from Africa and around the world. Our services include not only safekeeping but also protection from excessive taxation.

As you may already be aware, numerous countries in America, Europe, and Asia impose heavy taxes on high-net-worth individuals and corporate entities, which can stifle their growth and undermine the fruits of their lifelong efforts.

Recently, one of our esteemed high-net-worth clients entrusted a substantial sum of money to us, with a total value of $20,700,000.00. I am currently responsible for overseeing these funds. Tragically, this individual lost their life due to complications arising from COVID-19. Originally from Germany, he had not provided explicit instructions on the beneficiary of these funds, except that he was planning to disclose the next of kin's name before he succumbed to COVID-19.

Consequently, I am faced with the challenging task of locating his next of kin. Unfortunately, this has proven to be a complex endeavor due to his discreet lifestyle. I am working under a stringent time constraint to finalize this process and transfer the funds to the rightful heir. Failure to do so will result in our management closing the account and classifying the funds as unclaimed assets. This, in turn, will initiate the escheatment process.

Considering the situation at hand, I am actively seeking a reliable private entity with the capability to act as the next of kin and inherit this substantial sum. I propose that we collaborate to secure the release of these funds to you, with the understanding that we will equitably share them. The specifics of the distribution can be discussed and agreed upon between us. It is essential to note that the success of this endeavor is assured, as I am in direct control of the fund and its release process. This venture presents a mutually beneficial arrangement with no associated risks.

To initiate discussions and provide you with further details, kindly contact me via email at press.sec@outlook.com<mailto:press.sec@outlook.com>
at your earliest convenience, as time is of the essence.

Best regards and warm wishes.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bradley L Duchesneau.



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