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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.John Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnsmith47@yahoo.cn>
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:51:16 -0500
Subject: YOUR NOTIFICATION OF YOUR ATM CARD

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES
Internal Audit, Monitoring, Consulting and Investigations Division
From: Mr.John Smith
This is to inform you that I came to Nigeria yesterday from London, after series of complains from the FBI and other Security agencies from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, South America and the United States of America respectively, against the Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government for the rate of scam activities going on in these two nations.
I have met with President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria who claimed that he has been trying his best to make sure you receive your fund in an ATM CARD which you can use to withdraw money from any ATM MACHINE CENTER anywhere in the world with a maximum of $10,000 to $9000 United States Dollars daily. You now have the lawful right to claim your fund in an ATM CARD. .
Right now, as directed by our secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, We are working in collaborations with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and have decided to waive away all your clearance fees/Charges and authorize the Government of Nigeria to effect the payment of your compensation of an amount of $10.5M approved by both the British government and the UN into your ATM MASTER CREDIT CARD without any delay. The only fee you will pay to confirm your fund delivered to your doorstep is your Neutralaization fee to the UN.The Neutralization fee is $285 only, As soon as you recive this email just get back to me with the needed informations and also get ready the $285 and I will forward to you the details on how to send it as soon as i receive the information needed from you.
Sincerely, you are a lucky person because I have just discovered that some top Nigerian and British Government Officials are interested in your fund and they are working in collaboration with One Mr. Richard Graves from USA to frustrate you and thereafter divert your fund into their personal delivery address.
Get back to us with your information,
Full Names:
Country:
Direct Number:
Current occupation:
Gender:
Identification card:
I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I would like you to urgently respond to this message so that I can advise you on how best to confirm your fund within the next 48 hours.
Sincerely yours,
Mr.John Smith
 

Anti-fraud resources: