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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 Stephen Atkinson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stephenatkinsonstb@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:29:35 +0100
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary ,

 
STANDARD BANK PLC LONDON
20 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7JE
England,
United Kingdom
Direct Telephone number +447924545367
 
 
 
Attn: Beneficiary ,
 
 
This is to inform you that we STANDARD BANK PLC LONDON have received payment advice from the United Nation Organization ( UNO) and the International Monetary Funds ( IMF) following the petition received from the African Union Organisation (AUO) concerning your over due payment which has been delayed for too long.
 
 
Based on this instruction we received to release your funds through our bank. You are therefore advice to notify us of the mode of payment you will like as your funds is ready for transfer.
 
1) BANK TRANSFER
2) ATM CARD.
3) BANK DRAFT
 
 
Once we hear from you we will process for the release of your funds to you immediately you have offset the handling charges. Include your full name and direct telephone number for immediate communication for payment
to you.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
Mr Stephen Atkinson
Direct Telephone number +447924545367
Foreign Payment Dept ( SBPL).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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