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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:
Reply-To: <gregoryhumphesq@gmail.com>
Date:
Subject: URGENT PLS

Immediate ATM payment notification
Attention: Beneficiary.
I am  Mr. Gregory Humphrey, special adviser to the president on foreign contract payment .this  is to inform you that the government under the president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, president federal republic of Nigeria in conjunction with united nation, World Bank(WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on inheritance/contract payment (winner)are delighted to inform you that the contract panel, which just concluded its seating in Abuja just released your name amongst beneficiary to benefit from the ATM Card  immunity payment. This panel was primarily delegated to investigate manipulated contract/award claims, contracts and over-invoiced payment as the effect has eaten deep into the economy of our dear country.
However, we wish to bring to your notice that your profile is still reflecting in our central computer as unpaid beneficiary while auditing was going on. Your file was forwarded to my office by the auditors as unclaimed fund; we wish to use this medium to inform you that for the time being Federal Government of Nigeria have stopped further payment through bank to bank transfer due to contractors numerous petitions to United Nations against Nigeria on wrong payment and diversion of funds to different account.
To this effect, we are going to send your inheritance/award part payment of US$10,000,000.00 USD, to you via ATM Card (GOLD LEVEL),be informed that your payment have been programmed among other payment to be received via ATM Card. However this system was introduced to guide against American surveillance, monitoring out-going funds from Africa continent because after September 11th attack on the world trade center, the American government and the united nations tend to confiscate any payment above us$500,000 dollars going out of Africa, therefore to avoid it, these method of payment were put in place by the Nigeria government to ensure beneficiary receives their part payment without any hitch/problem.
Right now we have arranged your payment through our swift card payment center Asia pacific, which is the latest instruction from the law makers (The Senate) Federal Republic of Nigeria. This card center will issue you an ATM Card, which you will use to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world. We wish to let you know that the maximum to be withdrawn is us$5,000.00 (five thousand dollars) only per day, please re-confirm the information's below:
 
1. Full names
2. Phone and fax number
3. Address were you want your ATM Card
(P.O. Box number not acceptable)
4. Your age and current occupation
I expect your reply soonest
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Gregory Humphrey
Special adviser to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN)
 

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