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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: "REV,DR.JOHN H.WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revdrjohnhwilliams@yahoo.com.tw>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 21:58:20 +0200
Subject: VIEW THE ATTACHED FILE YOUR CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT FOR CONFIRMATION.

DEAR BENEFICIARY,
 
 
I AM REV,DR.JOHN H.WILLIAMS,THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND I WISH TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE
RECEIVED THE SCAN COPY OF YOUR CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT IN THE
AMOUNT OF $10,5MUSD WHICH I SENT TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
YESTERDAY AND THIS APPROVED DRAFT INCLUDES YOUR FUND
INTEREST AMOUNT FOR THIS YEARS AWAITING,SO CALL ME NOW TO
CONFIRM IT OKAY:-+234-9085454436
 
NOTE THAT WE ARE PAYING YOU THROUGH OUR OIL RESERVE BANK
ACCOUNT WITH THE JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NEW YORK,USA AND THEY
WILL CREDIT YOUR FUND ONCE YOU HAVE THE ORIGINAL CERTIFIED
BANK DRAFT HARD COPY AND DEPOSIT IT TO ANY BANK OF YOUR
CHOICE IN THE WORLD.
 
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVICE TO TAKE THE SCAN COPY OF YOUR
CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT TO YOUR LOCAL BANK AND CONFIRM IT
BEFORE WE CAN SEND YOU THE ORIGINAL HARD COPY OR YOU CAN
COME DOWN FOR THE COLLECTION HERE OKAY.
 
I AWAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST.
 
YOURS,
 
REV,DR.JOHN H.WILLIAMS.

Anti-fraud resources: