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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: "HM Revenue & Customs" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mslin-homer@dot.net>
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2013 04:22:54 -0600
Subject: Warning - Transaction Status Enclosed

HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS - 100 Parliament St.
London, SW1A 2BQ. United Kingdom
Department:  Audit and Risk Committee Team
Telephone: - +44 (705) 383-8417
Fax Number: +44 (700) 593-1276
 
Friday, December 20, 2013
 
Our Ref: HMRC/TREAS/182ATCP
File Code No: IMF/2104/013
 
Message To: Sole Beneficiary
 
You are being contacted today (20th of December 2013) because we have taken time to review your online email communication messages relating to your unsuccessful transactions with most international lottery/contract award winning organizations, firms and other foreign financial institutions. Following the recent email concerning the issues delaying the payment of your awarded fund, we discovered that most withheld and/or unpaid funds which originated from lottery organizations, international trading company's awarded contract funds and deceased personnel were not properly applied for an international fund payment to its beneficiary's account by the fund beneficiary approved to receive such funds.
 
In view of the above, we have immensely sorted out issues with the regional financial units in charge of your transaction and our extensive investigation confirmed that you are the original beneficiary shortlisted and approved to receive an outstanding sum of $15,000,000.00 USD (Fifteen Million United States Dollars). According to the information received, those representing you have failed to credit your funds into your international bank account and any correspondence in regards to your claim sent to them again, we will not be able to help nor advice you outside our jurisdiction and dispensation of power and duty.
 
This review is being undertaken to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for this payment before you are issued a W-8BEN FORM APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT. If an up to date completed W-8BEN FORM is not returned together with a scanned copy of your identification document such as your international passport or drivers license etc, you will be enlisted as undocumented and you will never be paid. Furthermore, if you did not authorize anyone to claim your fund, kindly indicate immediately by acknowleging the content of this message.
 
 
Yours Sincerely,
Ms. Lin Homer
(Chief Executive Officer).
Foreign Assets Control
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
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Disclaimer: The information in this email and in any files transmitted with it is intended only for the addressee and contains confidential and/or privileged material. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. If you receive this in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from your computer. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is strictly prohibited.
 

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