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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: "MRS. SUZY BLANKER." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mayor_benson@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:10:24 +0530
Subject: ATTENTION: DHL COURIER COMPANY IS WAITING FOR YOU.

GoodDay!!!
 
I am glad to send you this email to notify you concerning your ATM CARD worth $3.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS which has been in our custody for the past few months.
 
We want you to understand that the delivery fee is being paid by the Authorities and what you need to do now is to contact us immediately so that the delivery will commence to your doorstep as soon as possible.
 
Note that you are to pay for the Activation fee of your ATM CARD which is only $200 Dollars so that your ATM CARD will be Activated and delivered to you at your doorstep immediately.
 
If you know you will not be able to pay for the Activation fee of your ATM CARD please do not respond back to this email, and your ATM CARD  will be
returned back to the compensation head office which you will not be able to get the ATM CARD  again.
 
Do fill this information and get back to us as soon as You received this message.Recomfirm your mailing address.
 
===============================================
Full Name:.........
Sex:...................
Mailing Address:..........
Personal Phone Number...........
Occupation:..................
================================================
 
As soon as you are ready to make the payment of the Activation fee of your ATM CARD {$200} do let us know by sending us your mailing address, and we are going to send you the information in which you are going to use in making the payment for the delivery, once your payment have been comfirmed by our accountant officer, your ATM CARD  will be delivered to you as soon as possible.
 
Get back to the ATM Agent immediately for the delivery of your ATM CARD.
 
ATM AGENT:
 
MR. MAYOWA BENSON
E-mail: mayor_benson@ig.com.br
TEL: +234 8023 9890 97
=========================================
=========================================
Thanks for your understanding.
 
Sincerly,
Mrs. Suzy Blanker
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR.

Anti-fraud resources: