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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: "AFRICAN UNION MINISTERIAL APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE ON FINANCE" <info@smtp.com>
Reply-To: <ecowassecorg@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:53:23 -0400
Subject: COMPENSATION AUTHORIZATION ORDER

 
AFRICAN UNION MINISTERIAL APPROPRIATION
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
AFRICAN UNION HEADQUARTERS
P.O. Box 3243, Roosvelt Street, (Old Airport Area) W21K19
Addis Ababa -Ethiopia.
 
Our Ref: AU/MACF/VOL.01/09        Your Ref:                                      Date: 16/10/2009
 
ATTENTION: FOREIGN BENEFICIARY,
 
COMPENSATION AUTHORIZATION ORDER
 
This is to bring to your notice the resolution reached by the African Union Heads of States on economic adjustment program. We have considered various complains and petitions submitted by different foreign beneficiaries whose payments have been manipulated with intention to divert such fund to secret accounts in Cayman Island or Isle of Man.
 
Therefore, having consulted with the World Bank, United Nations and the European Union, we decided to mandate that all eligible and genuine beneficiaries will automatically receive compensation of US$4.5Million.
 
Hence, you are requested to furnish your personal data to Ecowas Secretariat in Cotonou, Benin Du Republic. The contact officer is Dr. Mathew Momoh Ecowas Payment Director on Tel: +22996730971 or E-mail: ecowassecorg01@sify.com You should state it clearly the following: -
 
1.        Your full name and address
2.        Company name and address (if any)
3.        Bank name and address
4.        Personal contact telephone and fax number
5.        An identification item, either international passport copy or drivers license
 
You should realize that we want to end the era that was characterized by corrupt leaders and looters of public treasury in Africa. Furthermore, in our bid to work based on international monetary regulation, we hereby advice that the following countries have been short listed as corrupt prone areas in Africa: - (a) Nigeria (b) Ghana (c) South Africa (d) C?te d'Ivoire. This information should be a guild to eligible beneficiaries and will necessitate your commitment to conceal every vital information that will emanate henceforth. You should respond as soon as possible for your good interest.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
 
DR. ABBAS BOUNDI CONTE
Director Foreign Operations, African Union Secretariat
=======================================================================
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and any documents, files or previous e-mail or facsimile messages attached to it, constitute an electronic communication within the scope of the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, 18 USCA 2510. This communication contains non-public, confidential, or legally privileged information intended for the sole use of the designated recipient(s). The unlawful interception, use or disclosure of such information is strictly prohibited pursuant to 18 USCA 2511 and any applicable laws. If you are not the intended recipient, if you received this communication in error, please delete it and notify the sender immediately.

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