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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: "Oceanic Bank Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atm_dept24@qatar.io>
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 02:40:38 +0100
Subject: UPDATE

Oceanic Bank International
Head Office, Herbert Macaulay Way,
Wuse Zone 6, Abuja FCT.
Tel: +234 803 504 2061
Fax: +234 813 375 0012
Dear Customer,
THIS IS MY THIRD AND FINAL MAIL TO YOU!!!
On behalf of the Management of Oceanic Bank Plc, I once again try to notify you as my previous letter were returned undelivered. I wish to inform you that we are in receipt of our ATM card issued in your favor with amount of $1.500, 000 only,  From the FedEx Diplomatic Courier Service, and they told us to cancel the ATM card, since you have refused to pay for the insurance certificate cover fee which is $205usd.
You are advised to contact us now and tell us what is going on, and why you refused to fulfill the needed obligations as the beneficiary of the Atm Card.
 
Contact our Director ATM Swift Card Center. Elder Okoro Simpson, on this email (atm_dept24@qatar.io) and send your name, current address and telephone number to him,
 
Regards.
King Rita Obi
Management.

Anti-fraud resources: