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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: "REV. JOHNSON WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnson.williams1998@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2016 14:42:33 +0100
Subject: FROM REV JOHNSON WILLIAMS

FROM THE OFFICE OF: REV. JOHNSON WILLIAMS
DIRECTOR, FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (U.B.A)
Telephone: +234-8083248829
 
Attn: Dear Beneficiary
 
I am REV. JOHNSON WILLIAMS, the Director Foreign Operation /ATM CARD Dept.
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA, (U.B.A)
 
This morning, I received payment files attached with instruction letter from the Finance Minister Dr. Mrs. Kemi Adeosun to handle the release of all outstanding debts and your and information payment are among the beneficiaries listed to receive the sum of US$10.5M at this third term of the year 2016.
 
All you have to do is to get back to me immediately you receive this mail for more information and requirements for verification/authentication before the transfer will commence.
 
Your prompt response to the above directive are highly imperative and indicate if you want your fund to program into a ATM VISA CARD in case you do not want Bank to Bank Wire Transfer {KTT}.
 
Yours Faithfully,
 
REV. JOHNSON WILLIAMS
FOREIGN, PAYMENT/ATM CARD DEPT.
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
 

Anti-fraud resources: