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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: "Mr Mike Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemail4545@googlemail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:25:40 +0100
Subject: From Mr. Mike Smith/YOU MUST READ

ATTENTION: CATEGORY “B” BENEFICIARY   
REF: IRRECOVABLE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND
 
Sir/Ma.
 
The Association of Better Business Bureaus to Review, Mediate and
Reconcile Foreign Debt are pleased to inform you that your name has
been mapped out among the fifteen beneficiaries that will receive their
funds. After a comprehensive study of your payment up to the Special
Project Committee with unreserved opinion, this office together with
the Bank of England has resolved to return with immediate effect your
inheritance fund part-payment of $10.5m, as contend on the file
forwarded to us from the bank of England.
 
As stated in your file this fund emancipated from Nigeria an
inheritance/contract fund approved in your favour.
 
We have contacted the World Bank and you are required to contact them
they will issue you a clearance payment certificate which will enable
us transfer this fund to your designated account. Forward your banking
details immediately where you wish to receive this fund to this office
as soon as you receive this message.
 
This is in accordance with the united Kingdom Monetary and Fiscal
Policy as contained in the provisions of the united kingdom government
on foreign payment transfer Act of 1979 and as amended in section 4
sub-section 2(C) of the banking law,Please note that as a result of
this notification we will notify your bank upon the completion of this
transfer. Contact the World Bank on this email: donaldmichel@live.com
director Donald Michel.
 
Finally, the Federal Reserve Bank London under the above committee will
forward your file to the European Central Services Depository
Association (ECSDA) to have these funds released to you.
While we await your immediate response.
 
Yours faithfully,
Mike Smith
Chief Executive Officer.
Debt Management and Mediation Office (DMMO)
cc “” European Central Services Depository Association (ECSDA).
cc “” Bank of England.

Anti-fraud resources: