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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: "Barrister Louis Moore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mbarristerlouis180@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 15:18:36 -0700
Subject: SWIFT CREDIT CARD PAYMENT

BARRISTER LOUIS MOORE
DIRECTOR FOREIGN OPERATION
DEPARTMENT ATM CARD
ECOBANK BANK OF NIGERIA
TEL: +234 8028638504

RE: SWIFT CREDIT CARD PAYMENT

AFTER EXTENSIVE CLOSE DOOR MEETING WITH BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS IN THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDING SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AND THE HOUSE OF REP FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. IT WAS RESOLVED AND AGREED UPON THAT YOUR FUND WOULD BE

RELEASED ON A SPECIAL METHOD OF PAYMENT, BY TAG NAME READS SWIFT CREDIT CARD.

THIS METHOD OF PAYMENT IS DESIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO AVERT FRAUD PERPETRATION OR STOPPAGE OF FUND BY SOME AGENCIES. EITHER THROUGH ANTI TERRORIST CERTIFICATE OR OTHER CERTIFICATES. THIS SWIFT CREDIT CARD WOULD BE ISSUED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL,THIS BANK HAS BEEN MANDATED TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE SWIFT CREDIT CARD AND YOUR PAYMENT FILE SHOULD BE PASSED TO MY DESK FOR CLARIFICATION.

UPON CERTIFICATION THAT YOUR PAYMENT FILE IS OK, THIS OFFICE WILL DIRECT YOU ON HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR OVER DUE FUND VIA ATM SWIFT CREDIT CARD. BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CANNOT BE ABLE TO PAY YOU THE FULL PAYMENT DUE TO INADEQUATE FUND, WE WILL ONLY PAY YOU THE SUM OF $5 MILLION DOLLARS AS PART PAYMENT, PLEASE BEAR WITH US AND WE PROMISE TO MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT FOR YOUR REMAINING PAYMENT IN 5MONTHS TIMEIN THE LIGHT OF THIS AFOREMENTIONED, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FURNISH THIS OFFICE WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

YOUR FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
NEXT OF KIN NAME:
DATE OF BIRTH:
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER:

THE CARD WOULD BE ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOUR, AND ALL YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE CARD. UPON COMPLETION OF THIS ISSUANCE OF THE CREDIT CARD, IT WOULD BE SEND TO YOU TOGETHER WITH THE ACCESS PIN NUMBER VIA COURIER TO YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

www.thebanker.com/.../520/Nigerian_Banking.html

THANKS,
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
BARRISTER LOUIS MOORE.

Anti-fraud resources: