Fraud Fighters
EN
Tell us yours

Is the email promising you a million dollars a scam?

Yes. It is the oldest scam on the internet, called "419" or the Nigerian prince. The millions do not exist: the only money that moves is yours.

Arrives by Email. Pretends to be: Europol, a lawyer, a foreign bank, a prince.

An international scam: the same English text goes out in every country.

How to spot it

MessageEuropol

Attention Please! I am Rob , 1director of Europol … your name was released among the foreign beneficiaries approved by the above mentioned authorities to receive first part payment of 2One million United States Dollars ($1,200,000.00 USD). … we advise that you 3reconfirm the following information stated below for confirmation and processing of your payment … Full Name: Full address: Tel/Fax Occupation: Age/Marital Status Next of Kin.

Text published by: 419scam.org, email of 7 February 2013. We blacked out the dark parts.

  1. A real authority used as a signature: Europol, the IMF, the UN
  2. A million that is yours, for no reason
  3. A request for your details and your relatives'
  4. Other signs to watch for
  5. A free email address, or one that differs from the sender
  6. Then come the costs: tax, lawyer, transfer

How it works

An email, often in poor English, says a fortune is yours: an inheritance with no heir, money stuck in a bank, a prize, compensation. It is signed by a lawyer, an official, a prince or a real authority such as Europol. First it asks for your details, then a small cost to release the transfer: a tax, a notary, a fee. After every payment there is another, until you stop paying.

What to do

  1. Do not reply, not even to say no: a reply shows the address is in use.

  2. Do not send documents or details of your family.

  3. If you have lost money, tell your bank now and report it to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040) with your screenshots; in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. If someone is coming to your home to collect money or cards, call 999.

Did you get this one? Tell us what happened: every detail helps us spot it.

Have you got a screenshot?

Tell us what happened

It takes five minutes. We never publish anything you send us.

How we know

Other scams