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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: "From MR .JERRY LINKS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jerrylinks@w.cn>
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 13:42:45 -0600
Subject: ATTN,,,,,,

FROM THE DESK OF: MR .JERRY LINKS BANK OF AMERICA BRANCH OFFICES NEW YORK, 1680 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, N.Y 10019, USA DIRECTOR,CREDIT CONTROL / TELEX DEPT. PAYMENT NOTIFICATION FROM BANK OF AMERICA. PLEASE THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM BANK OF AMERICA AND MUST BE TREATED AS URGENCY IT REQUIRED. FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING FOREIGN TRANSACTION DUE FOR PAYMENT WITH THE AFRICAN AUTHORITIES, YOUR NAME WAS DISCOVERED AS NEXT ON THE LIST OF THE OUTSTANDING TRANSACTION WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENTS. DURING OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE AND VERIFICATION PROCEDURES THIS YEAR 2010, WE HAVE DETECTED A SLIGHT ERROR IN YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION WITH THE AUTHORITIES. PLEASE VERIFY AND RECONFIRM TO THIS BANK YOUR CREDENTIALS IN ORDER TO AVOID REMITTING THE FUND TO A WRONG CHANNEL AS THE MISTAKE MIGHT BE DUE TO EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1. A RECENT CHANGE IN YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION (I.E. CHANGE OF ADDRESS,TELEPHONE NUMBER ETC ). 2. SUBMITTING INVALID INFORMATION DURING THE INITIAL TRANSACTION PROCESS. 3. AN INABILITY TO ACCURATELY VERIFY YOUR SELECTED OPTION OF PAYMENT DUE TO AN INTERNAL ERROR WITHIN OUR PROCESSORS. THE PRESIDENT OF PARIS CLUB AND WORLD BANK HAS ORDERED OUR BANK TO CREDIT THE SUM OF US$2 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT. NOTE THAT THIS BANK HAVE COMMERCE THE PROCESS OF YOUR BILL OF PAYMENT AND EVERY NECESSARY STEP CONCERNING THE IMMEDIATE REMITTANCE SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME ONCE WE RECEIVED YOUR CREDENTIALS TO AVOID REMITTING THE FUND TO A WRONG CHANNEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION AS WE WAIT FOR YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE TOWARD THIS OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO ENABLING THE IMMEDIATE PROCESS TO RELEASE YOUR UNCLAIMED FUND WITH AFRICA. THE MANAGEMENT ARE THEREFORE APOLOGIZED YOU FOR ANY FORM OF DELAY THIS MIGHT HAVE ENCOUNTERED YOU IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSFER. WE ARE POISED TO SERVE YOU BETTER. REGARDS. MR .JERRY LINKS

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