Advance Fee Scams via Bank Transfer
How advance fee fraud operators collect escalating bank transfer payments by promising a large sum that never arrives, leaving victims with irreversible losses.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Advance fee scams — often called 419 fraud — rely on bank transfers because they are easy to initiate globally, appear professional compared to cash methods, and are extremely difficult to reverse once processed. The legitimacy signal of a bank transfer reinforces the victim's belief that they are participating in a genuine financial transaction.
Scammers structure their instructions to mimic a real business or legal process — wire instructions, account numbers, and SWIFT codes — which deepens the illusion that the promised windfall is real.
How this scam works on Bank Transfer
A victim is informed they are entitled to a large sum — a lottery win, an inheritance from a distant relative, a business contract payment, or a government grant — that can only be released once a series of administrative fees are paid by bank transfer.
Each fee is framed as unavoidable: tax clearance, notary fee, customs bond, compliance charge. Payments are sent to different bank accounts across multiple jurisdictions, making tracking difficult. After each payment, a new fee emerges until the victim either runs out of money or realises the promised windfall will never arrive.
Some operations send fake bank confirmation letters, official-looking legal documents, and even small initial 'test payments' to simulate legitimacy before extracting large sums.
Common red flags
- Notification of an unclaimed inheritance, lottery win, or contract payment requiring fee payments
- Each payment followed by an additional unexpected fee before funds are released
- Bank account details in multiple different countries across different transfers
- Official-looking documents with inconsistent logos, fonts, or registered addresses
- Pressure to keep the transaction confidential and not consult a lawyer or bank
How to protect yourself
- No legitimate inheritance, lottery, or contract release requires advance fee payments
- Verify any claimed inheritance through a licensed solicitor in the relevant country
- Contact your bank before making an international wire based on unsolicited instructions
- Search the contact details and organisation name for fraud reports before engaging
- Never make wire transfers to individuals or businesses you have not independently verified
How to report it
- Report to your national fraud service — in the UK, Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk
- Report to your bank immediately if a transfer was made
- Report to the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov if the scammer is based in or routed through the US
Frequently asked questions
Can my bank reverse an advance fee scam bank transfer?
If you report the fraudulent transfer to your bank immediately, they may be able to initiate a swift recall request to the receiving bank. Success depends on how quickly you report and whether the funds have already been moved from the destination account. Banks in the UK operate the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) code which may offer protection if certain conditions are met.