419 emails and letters

For individuals:

Scam messages: If you’ve received a message that feels suspicious, STOP! Break the contact – don’t reply, click on any links, call any phone numbers or make any payments. You can check if it’s genuine by contacting the organisation directly using an email address or phone number you know is correct, e.g. from an official letter, via a search engine, on the back of your card or by calling 159 for banks.

Advanced payments: Unsolicited offers of large sums of money in return for a small upfront payment should always raise a red flag. Never respond to any requests to send money, or have money transferred through your account by someone you don’t know and trust.

Payment method: Where possible, avoid payments via bank transfer as it offers you little protection if you become a victim of fraud. Instead, use a credit card or payment services such as PayPal.

For businesses:

Brand impersonation: If you think your organisation is being impersonated online, you can contact hosting companies and domain registrars directly yourself to request that the service is taken down.

Fraudsters often use the same warning signs. Be alert if:

• you receive an unexpected email, letter or message that’s badly written or hard to understand
• someone you don’t know claims to be a distant relative, official or business contact
• you’re told to act quickly or keep the situation secret
• you’re asked to pay fees, taxes or charges to access a much larger sum of money
• you’re contacted again by different people, or by someone claiming to be an investigator or authority. This is usually the same fraudster using a new identity

Legitimate organisations do not ask members of the public to pay money to release funds

‘419’ emails and letters are a type of advance fee fraud. The fraudsters do not have the money they claim to be handling. Their aim is to take fees from you.

The scam usually starts with an unexpected contact by email, phone, post or fax. The fraudster claims they have access to a large amount of money, often linked to a made‑up inheritance, business deal or government fund.

They say they need your help to move the money. Common excuses include being unable to open a bank account in another country. They may explain why you were “chosen” and ask you to open a new bank account to receive the funds.
To appear genuine, fraudsters may:

• use different names or invented characters
• send fake documents, photographs or official‑looking letters
• claim to represent banks, lawyers or government bodies
• offer to meet in person, usually outside the UK

Once you pay a fee, the requests continue. Fraudsters invent new problems that require further payments. They may also ask for your bank details, claiming they need them to transfer your money. This information can be used to steal money from your account.

If you respond, you may be targeted again. Your details may be passed to other fraudsters, or the same criminals may return pretending to be police officers or lawyers offering to recover your money for a fee. UK police never ask for payment to investigate a crime.

If you have made a payment: Inform your bank as soon as possible, they can help you prevent any further losses. Monitor your bank statements regularly for any unusual activity.

Identity theft: If you have shared personal or financial information, and suspect your identity may have been stolen, you can check your credit file quickly and easily online. You should do this every few months anyway, using a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results. You can also sign up for Cifas services which can help to protect you against fraud.

You could be targeted again: Fraudsters sometimes re-establish contact with previous victims claiming that they can help them recover lost money, this is just a secondary scam. Hang up on any callers that claim they can get your money back for you.

Report it to us online or call 0300 123 2040. It may feel embarrassing if you’ve already replied to an email like this, but reporting it is the best thing to do.

End all further contact with the fraudsters. If they start threatening you when you stop co-operating tell your local police force.

If you’ve given the fraudsters your bank account details, contact your bank immediately. Don’t send them any more money.

Send a copy of any original emails to your own Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the ISP of the sender. Address it to ‘abuse@’ followed by the email address.